Preparing for your DNA Audit

Your Audit Team will require a small conference room or an area where they can conduct their business uninterrupted. When they arrive, a short meeting will be held with designated individuals from the agency and the Audit Team.  Introductions and a brief explanation of the audit process will be provided by the Lead Auditor.

Please ensure that the following materials are provided to the team in advance:

• A copy of manuals covering quality, procedures, training and  safety
• A copy of the last external and last internal DNA audits (“Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories” and “Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories”) and the remediations (if applicable)
• A list of DNA staff

Upon completion of the audit process, the Lead Auditor will provide a short summary of any potential findings.  The Lead Auditor will advise the laboratory staff that this report is a draft report that will not be finalized until the completion of the NFSTC review process.  The laboratory may contest any final finding with the National DNA Index System (NDIS) once they have received their final report and forwarded it (as required) to NDIS.

Final Report Process

The NFSTC Assessments Program provides for a comprehensive review for all generated audit reports.  All reports progress through a four-step review process.  Upon completion of this review process, DNA QAS Audit Reports are sent to the National Institute of Justice and the audited laboratory, which is required to forward the report to NDIS.

Email us at assessment@nfstc.org for additional information about this program.