Forensic Examination Accreditation Program
If you are requested by a court, lawyer, company or private citizen to examine an object or location and the result of that examination is meant for use in a criminal or civil hearing, you've just become a forensic scientist.
In reality, any test or inspection performed could ultimately be meant for use in court. For example, a manufacturer may request failure analysis testing on a manufactured item to help improve their product, but another customer may request the same analysis with the ultimate aim of using the results in a civil trial. The work isn't any different, but how you approach the examination is. If the work is done incorrectly or if it is conducted by an untrained or incompetent employee your report may be ruled inadmissible in court.
A2LA accreditation to a recognized international standard and assessment to the A2LA forensic accreditation program supplemental requirements conveys to potential customers and to judicial authorities that you have confidence in your work product and that this confidence has been confirmed by a third party, non-profit organization.
A2LA offers two options for accreditation. Organizations wishing to attain both laboratory and inspection body accreditation must complete both application processes. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Karin Athanas
()
at 301 644 3236.
Laboratory Accredtation
The first offering is for assessment and accreditation of forensic testing laboratories. Laboratories seeking accreditation under this option will be assessed for compliance to international standard ISO/IEC 17025, A2LA document R101 - General Requirements- Accreditation of ISO-IEC 17025 Laboratories and A2LA supplemental document R221 - Specific Requirements - Forensic Examination Accreditation Program - Testing.
Forensic Testing Selection List
The second accreditation option is for the assessment and accreditation of forensic inspection bodies (e.g. crime scene units, forensic engineering - structural failure inspection). Organizations seeking accreditation under this option will be assessed for compliance to international standard ISO/IEC 17020, A2LA document R301 - General Requirements - Accreditation of ISO-IEC 17020 Inspection Bodies and A2LA supplemental document R309 - Specific Requirements - Forensic Examination Accreditation Program - Inspection.
