It is the goal of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to continually improve, strengthen and enhance our programs to meet the changing needs of our customers. In support of this goal A2LA will from time-to-time offer Pilot Programs in various fields of accreditation. Information about these opportunities may be found below:

 

The A2LA FBI QAS Pilot Program is being offered to those organizations that are currently approved by the FBI and that are seeking assessment to the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Testing and Databasing facilities to meet the following requirements:

 

Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories, Section 15.2: "At least once every two years, an external audit shall be conducted by an audit team comprised of qualified auditor(s) from a second agency(ies) and having at least one team member who is or has been an analyst previously qualified* in the laboratory's current DNA technologies and platform."

 

Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories, Section 15.2: "At least once every two years, an external audit shall be conducted by an audit team comprised of qualified auditor(s) from a second agency(ies) and having at least one team member who is or has been an analyst previously qualified* in the laboratory's current DNA technologies and platform and one team member who is currently or was previously a qualified analyst from a databasing laboratory."

 

*Qualified auditor is a current or previously qualified DNA analyst who has successfully completed the FBI DNA Auditor's training course.

 

The A2LA Crime Scene Analysis Pilot Program is being offered to those organizations performing on-site evaluations of scenes of incidents to include criminal activity (crime scenes), structural failures (forensic engineering), and environmental/ecological hazards (chemical spills).

 

News:

 

On September 15, 2012 , A2LA extended both Forensic Pilot Programs referenced above to include additional applicants.  The pilot programs are based on availability and continue to offer waived fees for applicant organizations.  For additional information, please contact forensic program coordinator Karin Athanas at (301) 644 3236 or kathanas@A2LA.org.

 

A2LA Documents:

• F230 - Application to Participate in an A2LA Pilot Program
• F231 - Pilot Program Post Assessment Questionnaire
• F230 - Memorandum - Crime Scene Analysis Pilot Program
• F230 - Memorandum - FBI QAS Pilot Program

 

A2LA Accredited Organizations:

 

For a list A2LA accredited Forensics laboratories, please click here

 

Applying for Accreditation:

 

Those organizations seeking accredited status for the work being performed at your facility must apply for accreditation in accordance with the instructions listed on the applicable program page:

• Forensic Testing
• Forensic Inspection

A2LA Training:

 

To review our available training programs, please click here. If you would like to organize a training class to be hosted at your facility, please contact Julie Collins, A2LA Membership and Training Administrator at (301) 644 3235 or jcollins@A2LA.org