FRSC 3020 Flashcards

1
Q

Quality Control

A

Most basic level of quality– making sure product or service is OK. Doesn’t ensure quality, only points out lack of quality.

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2
Q

Quality Assurance

A

Aims to prevent non-conformities. Considers related activities like training, document control and audits. (Safety)

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3
Q

Horse in the Stall Example

A

QC is periodically checked to make sure the horse is in its stall.

QA is: making sure that there is a functional lock on the stall door that all stable hands are trained to use.
Making sure that all staff understand the importance of locking the door when the horse is in the stall.

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4
Q

Quality Management

A

Also includes quality improvements and aims to look at the quality management system as a whole.

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5
Q

Quality International Organization for Standardization (2)

A
  • Has a standard for quality management systems.
  • Published over 22,000 international standards covering almost every industry in existence inlduing forensics.
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6
Q

Management System Must contain: (4)

A
  • Management (planning, goals, objectives).
  • Resources (people, tools, equipment).
  • Service/product realization (whatever is involved in creating the product).
  • Monitoring (feedback loop).

MRS&M
Mister and Misses

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7
Q

Types of Errors in QC/QA in Forensics

A

Type 1: false positive.
Type 2: false negative

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8
Q

Which error type would they prefer in Court

A

Court system would prefer false negative(Type 2)

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9
Q

Which labs are captured in the QA

A
  • CODIS
  • FBI
  • CFS
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10
Q

What is method validation?

A

The process of establishing performance characteristics and the limitations and influencing factors on a method

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11
Q

When is validation needed?(3)

A
  • Whenever the method is changed and the change is outside the original scope of the method.
  • Before introduction of a new method into routine use.
  • Whenever conditions change for which a method has been validated– eg. anew instrument with different characteristics is bought.

WBW
Women Bitch Wednesday

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12
Q

The 3 R’s

A

Robust method:
- successful results are obtained a high percentage of the time
- The robustness of an analytical procedure is a measure of its capacity to remain unaffected by small variations
- Provides an indication of a method’s reliability during normal usage.

Reliable method:
-the obtained results are accurate and correctly reflect the sample being tested.

Reproducible method:
- the same or very similar results are obtained each time a sample is test.

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13
Q

Examples of Evidence Control(4)

A
  • Unique identifier
  • chain of custody (people, date, time)
  • procedures to prevent contaminiation
  • controlled access areas.

CUPP

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14
Q

3 things personnel must complete or have to work in a forensic lab

A
  • have education, training and experience
  • Documented training program: including a manual, practical exercises, participation in continuing education.
  • Probation period and competency testing before completing independent casework

acronym: PhD

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15
Q

3 Levels of validation

A

Developmental validation:
- commonly performed by commercial manufacturers of novel methods or technologies (more extensive than internal validation)

Internal validation:
- performed by individual labs with new methods are introduced.

Performance checks:
- can be performed with every run (set of samples).

DIP
dipsy doo da

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16
Q

Developmental Validation(3)

A
  • Demonstration of the accuracy, precision and reproducuibilty of a procedure.
  • Completed by the manufacturer, technical organization, academic institution, government laboratory, or other party creating something new.
  • Must precede the use of a novel methodology for forensic analysis.
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17
Q

Internal Validation

A
  • The internal validation process should include the studies detailed below encompassing a total of at least 50 samples:
  • Known and nonprobative samples, reproducibility and precision, match criteria, mixture studies
  • Sensitivity and stochastic studies, contamination, qualifying test
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18
Q

Define Precision

A

How closely grouped your data is

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19
Q

Define Accuracy

A

How close your data is to the actual answer.

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20
Q

Limit of Detection (LOD)

A

The lowest content that can be measured with reasonable statistical certainty.

21
Q

Limit of Quantitative Measurement (LOQ)

A

The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be determined with acceptable precision (repeatability) and accuracy under the stated conditions of the test.

22
Q

System Stability

A

Fitness of the sample or test to produce reliable and accurate results over time.

23
Q

Steps to validating a method(5)

A
  • Decide on analytical requirements: sensitivity, resolution, precsions, etc.
  • Plan a suite of experiments.
  • Carry out ht experiments.
  • Use data to assess fitness for purpose.
  • Produce a statement of validation: scope method.

DCUPP
validate big boobs

24
Q

Assumptions when performing validation(4)

A
  • The equipment on which the work is being done is broadly suited to the application; it is clean, well maintained and calibrated.
  • The staff carrying out the validation are competent in the type of work involved.
  • There are no unusual fluctuations in laboratory conditions and there is no work being carried out in the immediate vicinity likely to cause interferences.
  • The samples being used in the validation study are known to be sufficiently stable.
25
Q

3 things to compare when considering capability of methods

A

Concordance- are the same typing results obtained with new technique as with an older one?

Constant monitoring- check multiple allelic ladders in a batch against one another to confirm precision.

Common sense- are replicate tests repeatable.

CCCapability

26
Q

Urban Legends of Validation(5)

A
  • Hundreds or thousands of samples are required to fully validate an instrument or method.
  • Each component of a test or process must be validated separately.
  • Validating should see to understand everything that could potentially go wrong with an instrument or technique.
  • Validation is boring and should dbe performed by interns since it is beneath the dignity of a qualified analyst.
  • Once a validation study is complete, you never have to revisit it.
27
Q

American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

A

Founded in 1901; now part of the US Department of Commerce.

Authority on standards: allows for standardization across labs, industries, countries, etc.

If you want to calibrate your scale using weights, you get standard weights form NIST.

Have listings of available standards: Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) ; based at Guelph University

Smithsonian Institution Mammal Collection; mostly Suitland MD.

28
Q

Key components of SOPs(8)

A
  • Scope and applicability: describe purpose of process, limits, how its used.
  • Include any standards or regulatory requirements, roles/responsibilities different employees
  • All steps in enough detail. Include required equipment, decision factors.
  • Addresses any “what ifs” possible interferences and safety considerations.
  • Terminology: define your terms to minimize possible misinterpretations.
  • Need to be sites as a separate section as well as alongside step by step procedures
  • Complete lists of what is needed; where to find it; standards required.
  • Cautions and interferences (aka troubleshooting): what could go wrong, what to look out for.
29
Q

Corrective Action

A

Corrective action plan to address discrepancies detected proficiency tests or casework analysis.

30
Q

Outsourcing

A

If work is being performed in a different facility that facility must comply with all of the same standards regarding technical expertise, training, etc.

31
Q

Post- traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD (4)

A

Mental health conditions that’s triggered by a terrifying event or specific events. Either experiencing or witnessing it.

Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event (“vivid recall”).

Re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, hyperarousal continue more than a month after the event.

It is assumed that PTST in first responders is work related issues unless otherwise shown– moves the burden of proof to the other side.

32
Q

Occupational Stress Injury - OSI (5)

A

Starting to be recognized (RCMP, Military). What is traditionally considered “burn out”.
High stress environment:

Accumulation of events, experiences, not one specific event.

Leads to heightened anxiety, stress, heightened state of alert or numbness. Heightened “negative” state.

Currently lumped in under PTSD for WSIB claims

Burden of proof is on the claimant, that cumulative effects are all work-related.

33
Q

Standards in the workplace

A

a required or agreed level of quality or attainment

34
Q

ISO: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDS

A

Independent, non-governmental international organization

35
Q

How many principles have ISO developed

A

22572

36
Q

4 principles of ISO

A
  1. Based on a consensus
  2. Based on global expert opinion (incl: technical committees*)
  3. Respond to a need in the market
  4. Developed through a multi-stakeholder process

ISaw a Big BeaRD
BBRD

37
Q

What is ISO17025

A

General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

38
Q

Standard Council of Canada

A

Promote efficient and effective voluntary standardization in Canada

Aims to advance national economy, support sustainable development, benefit health, safety and welfare of public

Offers discipline specific accreditation to laboratories

OAPa
Greek council

39
Q

Tell me about the forensic laboratories act

A

Accreditation is mandatory for forensic labs operating in Ontario

No person shall, in a laboratory, conduct a test to which this section applies, unless,
(a) the laboratory is accredited
(b) if the test is a prescribed test
(3) A person who operates a laboratory shall ensure that no test is conducted in the laboratory in violation of subsection (2)

39
Q

Why accreditation

A

Requirement in Ontario because of the ramifications of bad science getting presented in court

Establish minimum competency standards,

Identify laboratories specific competencies,

40
Q

What is accreditation

A

Procedure where an authoritative body or organization (like SCC) gives formal recognition that a laboratory is competent to carry out specific tests or calibrations

Doing what you say you are doing and being able to prove it

41
Q

Steps to accreditation(6)

A

Application
On-site assessment
Deficiencies
Accreditation decisions
Annual review
Re-assessment/Renewal of accreditation

the ROAAAD to accreditation

42
Q

What do Proficiency Testing Programs Include (4)

A

Proficiency testing activities 2x/year; Cover all sub-disciplines in 4 years

Results must be within acceptance criteria

Failure of proficiency testing can result in suspension of analyst and/or loss or suspension of accreditation for a facility

43
Q

SCC

A

Standard Council of Canada

1970

44
Q

FEPAC

A

Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation and Commission

45
Q

NIST

A

American National Standards and Technology

46
Q

ISO

A

International Organization for Standardization

47
Q

SOP

A

Standard Operation Procedures