Introduction

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Training to become a reporting forensic scientist is rigorous and time consuming. The first steps are to understand basic procedures, safety requirements, and the laboratory’s quality assurance program(s).

The forensic scientist’s job requires accurate record keeping, chain-of- custody documentation, stringent quality control, and data management. Forensic scientists must make sure that

the examination is comprehensive,
appropriate tests are selected,
tests are performed correctly,
interpretation of the data is accurate and thorough,
the written report is correct and easily understood by a non-scientist,
testimony is complete and truthful.

Laboratory safety programs are designed to prevent employees or visitors from being subjected to any unusual health or safety risks. Additionally, many safety programs strive to meet the QAS and relevant OSHA or regulatory requirements.

Laboratory quality assurance programs are designed to establish and monitor requirements for all work performed by the staff. New analysts must have a basic understanding of the laboratory’s quality control requirements for clean techniques, facilities, equipment, and reagents prior to beginning training in specific laboratory methods.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit of instruction, the student shall have the following:

A basic awareness of safe laboratory practices
A basic competency in general forensic laboratory quality control measures and QA standards related to the following:
- laboratory clean techniques
- facility
- equipment
- reagents

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