Quality Assurance

Question 1

What is QAS?

Answer 1

QAS is the FBI Quality Assurance Standards

These are standards set forth by the FBI for DNA testing laboratories.

Question 2

How many active sets of FBI Quality Assurance Standards exist?

Answer 2

There are 2 FBI QAS documents. One for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and one for DNA databasing laboratories.

Question 3

How many (main) standards are there in each QAS document?

Answer 3

17

Question 4

What is ISO?

Answer 4

International Organization of Standards

Question 5

What ISO standards do we follow at LSPCL?

Answer 5

ISO17025 and AR3125

Question 6

ISO17025 are standard requirements for who?

Answer 6

Testing and calibration laboratories

Question 7

AR3125 are standard requirement for who?

Answer 7

Forensic testing and calibration laboratories

Question 8

What is SWGDAM?

Answer 8

Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods

Question 9

What does SWGDAM publish?

Answer 9

SWGDAM publishes guidelines or recommendations for best practices in forensic DNA laboratories.

Question 10

What is accreditation?

Answer 10

The formal recognition that a laboratory meets or exceeds a list of standards.

Question 11

What is a validation as it relates to forensic DNA analysis?

Answer 11

A process by which a method is evaluated to determine its efficacy and reliability for forensic casework analysis.

Question 12

What are the two types of validations in forensic DNA?

Answer 12

Developmental validation and internal validation.

Question 13

What is a developmental validation?

Answer 13

The acquisition of test data and determination of conditions and limitations of a new/novel DNA method for use on forensic samples.

Question 14

What is an internal validation?

Answer 14

the accumulation of test data within the laboratory to demonstrate that established methods and procedures perform as expected in the laboratory,

Question 15

What is proficiency test?

Answer 15

QAS- A test that is a quality assurance measure used to monitor performance and identify areas in which improvement may be needed.
ISO 17025- An evaluation of participant performance against pre-established criteria.

Question 16

What is a competency test?

Answer 16

QAS- A test designed to establish that an individual has demonstrated achievement of technical skills and met minimum standards necessary to perform forensic DNA analysis.
AR 3125- The evaluation of a person’s knowledge, skills, and/or ability to perform work.