IAS Accredits Forensic Labs and Forensic Inspection Agencies
International Accreditation Service (IAS) accredits forensic laboratories and forensic inspection agencies to show compliance with internationally recognized standards.
“An accredited forensic laboratory or forensic inspection agency has demonstrated that it complies with the standards and is technically competent,” said Dr. George Anastasopoulos, Vice President, Global Development & Compliance for IAS. “The accreditation process is also a time to gain insight into best practices from our extensive knowledge base and team of technical experts.”
The IAS accreditation process for forensic laboratories includes an assessment of the labs technical competence for performing sampling, testing and/or calibration services, suitability of equipment and the effectiveness of the management systems of calibration providers per standard ISO/IEC 17025 and industry specific standards.
During the accreditation process, IAS will assess and monitor the quality of the lab’s management system by examining factors that include staff competence; method validation; appropriateness of test methods; calibration and maintenance of test equipment; testing environment and quality assurance data.
IAS also accredits forensic inspection agencies that perform inspections of materials, products, installations or processes. The accreditation demonstrates forensic inspection agencies’ competence for performing inspections and the consistency of their inspection activities per standard ISO/IEC 17020.
IAS provides accreditation to the following forensic analysis related categories:
- Law enforcement agencies and crime laboratories
- Medical examiner offices and public health agencies
- Environmental testing laboratories and breath alcohol calibration laboratories
- Animal drug testing laboratories
- Computer/IT forensic investigation organizations
- Academic institutions
While IAS accreditation programs are based on internationally recognized standards to meet the needs of the global forensic community, the IAS Laboratory Accreditation program is uniquely well equipped to meet the United States Department of Justice’s recent mandate that forensic labs and forensic inspection agencies must be accredited to process forensic evidence.
For more information, visit this page on the IAS website.
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) is a nonprofit accreditation body based in Brea, California USA. Providing accreditation services since 1975, IAS is one of the leading accreditation bodies in the United States and a signatory to several international mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs). For more information, visit https://www.iasonline.org/services/forensic-laboratories-and-inspection-agencies/ .
