proficiency and competency testing services 2018

[email protected]:(248)773-5114

P.O.Box231Northville,MI48167

ProficiencyandCompetencyTestingServices2018

[email protected] P.O.Box231Phone:248-773-5114 www.forensicassurance.com Northville,MI48167


DeclaredDouble-BlindandStaticProficiencyTests

1

DeclaredDoubleBlindTestDesign

Eachparticipantwillreceivearandomizedtestwiththeanswersforthattestbeingdifferentfromothertestsusedduringthesametestingcycle.Theparticipantisawarethattheyare

takingatest.

ISO/IEC17043:

ForensicAssurancewasthefirstforensicscienceproficiencytestprovideraccreditedinaccordancewiththerecognizedInternationalStandardISO/IEC17043:ConformityAssessment–GeneralRequirementsforProficiencyTesting.Ourmanagementsystemmeetstheprinciples

ofISO9001:2008.

2

StaticTestDesign

Allparticipantswillreceivethesametestitemswiththecorrectanswersbeingthesameas

othersparticipatingduringthesametestcycle.Thisisacosteffectiveoptiontocomplimentthe

declareddouble-blindtestdesign.

Statistics:

ForensicAssurancepersonnelcollaboratedwithstatisticiansfromtheUniversityof

Michigantodevelopstatisticalmodelsthatareusedtocalculaterelevantstatisticsfortheforensicscienceandlegalcommunities.

Includedarefalsepositiveandfalsenegativeerrorrates,aswellas,sensitivityand

DesignedbyForensicExperts:

ForensicexpertsdesignanddevelopForensicAssuranceproficiencyteststoensurethatthetestsarerelevantandappropriatelychallenging.


2018ProficiencyTests

ForensicAssuranceisanapprovedproficiencytestproviderforANABandA2LA.OurtestsfulfilltheexternalproficiencytestrequirementforISO

17025accreditedlaboratories.

ForensicBiology

ForensicDNA

ProbabilisticGenotypingSoftware(DNAMixtureAnalysis)

BodyFluidIdentification

FirearmsIdentification

ToolMarkIdentification

FingerprintIdentification

ForensicPaintAnalysis

ForensicFiberAnalysis

FootwearIdentification

GunshotResidue

ControlledSubstances

BloodstainPatternAnalysis

FingerprintProcessing

Proficiency Testing Provider CERT #3526.01


ForensicDNACompetencyTestThoroughqualityvalidationsarerequiredtomaintainahighqualitycrimelaboratory.Akeycomponentofvalidationistodeterminethecompetencyofpractitionersinthenewchemistry,instrumentation,quantitationkit,ornewextractionprocedureasrequiredbytheQualityAssuranceStandardsforForensicDNATestingLaboratories(Standard8.4).Eachcompetencytestwillconsistoftwoknownbloodsamples,onemixedbloodstain,onemixedsemen/bloodstain,andonesinglesourcebloodstain.Directamplificationsamples(saliva)andadditionalmixedbloodstains(differentmixtureratios)maybepurchasedaswellandaddedtoyour'customized'competencytest.Ourcompetencytestsaredeclareddoubleblindwithnumerousbodyfluiddonorsbeingusedtorandomizeeachtestpreventingtheperceptionofanyinformationsharingbetweenanalysts.

Formoreinformationandtoorderourcompetencytests,pleasevisitourwebsiteat:

https://www.forensicassurance.com/product/dna-competency-test/

PleasedirecttechnicalquestionstoBrandonGoodat248-773-5114oremail:[email protected]

***Note:ForensicAssuranceisaccreditedunderISO/IEC17043:ConformityAssessment–GeneralRequirementsforProficiencyTesting.Competencytestingdoesnotfallwithinourscopeofaccreditation.


ProbabilisticGenotypingSoftwareProficiencyTest(DNAMixtureAnalysis)

Eachproficiencytestdesignwillincludetwoevidentiarymixturesamples(2,3,or4personmixtures)andfourknownsamples.Thesampleswillbeprocessedeitherperlaboratorysystem,laboratory,orinstrumentdependingonthetechnicalleadersinput.Thegenerateddatafileswillbedistributedtotheproficiencytestparticipantsforanalysis.Participantsarerequestedtocompareeachknownsampletothemixturesamplesutilizingcurrentprobabilisticgenotypingsoftwareandprocedures.Eachparticipantwillneedtodeterminethenumberofcontributorstoeachevidentiarysample,thelikelihoodratioofeachcomparison,andwhichhypothesiseachlikelihoodratiofavors(prosecutionordefense).ThepurchaseoftheForensicProbabilisticGenotypingSoftwareProficiencyTestincludesonlineanswersheetlogincredentialsfortwoparticipants.Logincredentialsforadditionalparticipantscanbepurchasedtoaccompanythepurchasedtestsamples.

PleasedirecttechnicalquestionstoBrandonGoodat248-773-5114oremail:

[email protected]

AdditionalInformation:ThesettingsforthesoftwareprogramsthatareavailableforDNAmixtureanalysisarespecifictotheinstrumentationutilizedbythelaboratory.Participantsarebeingtestingontheirabilitytoinputdatageneratedbythelaboratoriesgeneticanalyzerintothesoftwareprogram,andnotontheirabilitytoproperlyprocessandanalyzebiologicalsamples.Itwasdeterminedappropriatetoprovideonebiologicalsamplesetperlaboratorysystem,laboratory,orinstrumenttogeneratethedatathatwillbeutilizedbyparticipantstakingthistest.

Spring2018ProbabilisticGenotypingSoftwareProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofMay7,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:August6,2018

Fall2018ProbabilisticGenotypingSoftwareProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018

Distribution:weekofNovember5,2018AnswerSubmissionDeadline:February4,2019

***Note:SamesamplesetwillbeusedforboththeSpringandFalldistributions


ForensicBiologyProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestdesignwillincluderandomlyselectedneatand/ormixturesamples.Alltestswillcontainmultipleknowncontributorsamplesandmultiplesamplesofunknownstainscollectedonvarioussubstrates.Serologicalscreeningoftheunknownstainsisrequired,andtheresultsoftheserologicalandDNAanalysiswillbecollectedforthesetests.TheForensicBiologyProficiencyTestswillbedistributedfourtimesayear(onceperquarter).ThedistributionofthesetestshavebeenstructuredandscheduledtoaccommodatelaboratoriesmeetingthetestfrequencyrequirementsoftheDNAAdvisoryBoard(DAB)FBIQualityAssuranceStandards(QAS).

ForensicDNAProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestdesignwillincluderandomlyselectedneatand/ormixturesamples.Alltestswillcontainmultipleknowncontributorsamplesandmultiplesamplesofunknownstainscollectedonvarioussubstrates.TheDNAresultswillbecollectedforthesetests.Serologicalscreeningisnotrequiredinthistestwiththebodyfluidcontentsofeachsamplebeingprovidedtotheparticipant.TheDNAProficiencyTestswillbedistributedfourtimesayear(onceperquarter).ThedistributionofthesetestshavebeenstructuredandscheduledtoaccommodatelaboratoriesmeetingthetestfrequencyrequirementsoftheDNAAdvisoryBoard(DAB)FBIQualityAssuranceStandards(QAS).

Winter2018ForensicBiologyProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofJanuary22,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:April23,2018

Spring2018ForensicBiologyProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofApril9,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:July9,2018

Summer2018ForensicBiologyProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofJuly9,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:October8,2018

Fall2018ForensicBiologyProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018

Distribution:weekofOctober8,2018AnswerSubmissionDeadline:January7,2019

Winter2018ForensicDNAProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofJanuary22,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:April23,2018

Spring2018ForensicDNAProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofApril9,2018


Summer2018ForensicDNAProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofJuly9,2018


Fall2018ForensicDNAProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018

Distribution:weekofOctober8,2018AnswerSubmissionDeadline:January7,2019


BodyFluidIdentificationProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestdesignwillincludemultiplerandomlyselectedsamplesofbiologicalstains.Participantswillreportresultsforscreeningtestsonly.Thisproficiencytestisdesignedtotesttheabilityoftheparticipanttoidentifyavarietyofbodyfluidsonvarioussubstrates.

Spring2018ForensicBodyFluidIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofApril9,2018


Fall2017ForensicBodyFluidIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018

Distribution:weekofOctober8,2018 AnswerSubmissionDeadline:January7,2019

FingerprintIdentificationProficiencyTest:Includedineachtestwillbedigitalphotographsofunknownfingerprints/palmprintsandhigh-resolutionscansofknownsuspectprintcards.TheBuyerhastheoptionofpurchasingthetestasDigitalOnly(DVDcontainingdigitalunknownimagesandhigh-resolutionscansofknownprintcards)orPrintedandDigital(DVDplustheentiretestprinted).Participantswillbetestedontheirabilitytoidentifyoreliminatethecontributor(s)totheunknownlatentprintsandpalmprints.

Winter2018FingerprintIdentificationProficiencyTest

PurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofFebruary5,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:May7,2018

Summer2018FingerprintIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofAugust6,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:November5,2018


FirearmsIdentificationProficiencyTestDifferentmakeandmodeloffirearmswillbeusedinthedevelopmentoftheproficiencytestitemsforeachoftheproficiencytestingcycles.Thisallowsparticipantstobetestedontheirabilitytoproperlyidentifyoreliminatefiredammunitioncomponentswhendifferentmanufacturingprocessesareusedinthedevelopmentoftheutilizedfirearms.Firearmsthatwereconsecutivelymanufactured,ormanufacturedinclosetimeproximitytooneanother,areusedinthedevelopmentofmanyofourproficiencytests.

Winter2018FirearmsIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofFebruary5,2018


Summer2018FirearmsIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofAugust6,2018


ToolMarkIdentificationProficiencyTestDifferenttoolactionsandsubstrateswillbeusedinthedevelopmentoftheproficiencytestitemsforeachoftheproficiencytestingcycles.Participantswillbetestedontheirabilitytoproperlyproduceknowntoolmarks,compareknownandunknowntoolmarks,and/orinter-compareunknowntoolmarks.Newtoolsandheavilyworntoolsmaybeusedinthedevelopmentofproficiencytestitems,andvariationsintheclassfeaturesofthetoolsandtoolmarkswilltesttheexaminer'sproficiencyineliminatingincompatibletestitems.

Winter2018ToolMarksIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofFebruary5,2018


Summer2018ToolMarksIdentificationProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofAugust6,2018



ForensicFiberAnalysisProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestwillcontainquestionedandknownfibersamplesthatrepresenttypicalfibertypesencounteredincasework(naturaland/orsynthetic).Thefibersamplesmaybecomposedofpiecesoffabric,yarns/threads,individualfibers,tapeliftsorothersuitablemediumthatareroutinelyencounteredincasework.Participantsarerequestedtocomparethefibersamplesutilizingtheirlaboratory’sproceduresandinstrumentation.

Fall2018ForensicFiberAnalysisProficiencyTest

PurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofNovember5,2018

AnswerSubmissionDeadline:February4,2019

ForensicPaintAnalysisProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestwillcontainquestionedpaintsamplesforcomparisontoknownpaintsamples.Thesepaintsampleswillrepresenttypicaltypesofpaints(architectural,automotive,bicycle,spraypaints,etc.)thatarefoundincaseworkandmayvarybetweensingleandmultiplelayers.Thepaintsamplesmaybepaintchips,smears,paintedsubstratesorotherformsthatareroutinelyencounteredinaforensiclaboratory.Participantsarerequestedtocomparethedifferentpaintsamplesutilizingtheirlaboratory’sproceduresandinstrumentation.

Summer2018ForensicPaintAnalysisProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofAugust6,2018



FootwearIdentificationProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestwillcontaindigitalimagesofdifferentfootwearimpressionsinavarietyofmediums,whichmayincludethree-dimensionalimpressionsindirt/sand/snow,two-dimensionalimpressionsindustand/ordevelopedwithpowdersorotherenhancementtechniques.Thetestswillalsocontaindigitalimagesofthetreadofknownshoesandknownshoeimpressionsforcomparisontothequestionedimpressions.Participantsarerequestedtoexamineandprocessthedigitalimagesofthequestionedimpressionsastheywoulddoinactualcasework,andcomparetheseimagestotheknownshoes/impressions.

Spring2018FootwearIdentificationProficiencyTest

PurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofMay7,2018


GunshotResidueProficiencyTestParticipantsarerequestedtovisuallyexamineandchemicallyprocessthreeunknowngunshotresiduepatterns.Theirresultsaretobecomparedtohighresolutionprintedimagesofunprocessedandchemicallyprocessed(ModifiedGriessTestandSodiumRhodizonateTest)knowndistancegunshotresiduepatterns.Theparticipantswillbetestedontheirabilitytoproperlyprocessandevaluategunshotresiduepatternstodetermineamuzzle-to-targetdistancerange.

Spring2018GunshotResidueProficiencyTest




BloodstainPatternAnalysisProficiencyTestEachtestwillcontaindigitalimagesofbloodstainpatterns.Participantswillbeaskedtoclassifythepatterntypes.Inaddition,digitalimagesofanimpactbloodstainpatternwillalsobeprovidedwithspecificspatterstainsselectedfortheparticipanttomeasureandcalculatetheangleofimpact.

Summer2018BloodstainPatternAnalysisProficiencyTest

PurchaseDeadline:March1,2018Distribution:weekofJuly9,2018


ControlledSubstancesProficiencyTestEachproficiencytestwillcontaintwounknownsamplestoanalyzeforthepossiblepresenceandidentificationofacontrolledsubstance(s).Thesamplesmaybepowders,solids,plantmaterials,orotherformsthatareroutinelyencounteredinaforensiclaboratory.Participantsarerequestedtoidentifythecontrolledsubstancesusingtheirlaboratoryproceduresandinstrumentation.

Spring2018ControlledSubstancesProficiencyTest



Fall2018ControlledSubstancesProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:March1,2018

Distribution:weekofNovember5,2018AnswerSubmissionDeadline:February4,2019


FingerprintProcessingProficiencyTestIncludedineachtestwillbeatotalofsixproficiencytestitems-threesampleseachoftwodifferenttypesofsurfacesforprocessing.Thetypesofsurfacesandmatrixwillbeadjustedeachyear.Thesurfacesandmatricesarechosenfromporous,non-porous,andadhesivesurfacesandmayincludeanaturalmatrixorabloodmatrix.Forporousandnon-poroussurfacesacontrolwillalsobeincludedonthesample.ThelatentprintswillbelaiddownonthesamplewithaportionofthelatentprintbeingretainedbyForensicAssuranceinordertoofferqualitycontrolifanunexpectedanswerissubmitted.Participantswillbetestedontheirchoiceofanappropriateprocessingtechniqueforthesurfaceandtheirabilitytodevelopthelatentprints.

Spring2018FingerprintProcessingProficiencyTestPurchaseDeadline:November1,2017Distribution:weekofMay872018



Toorderortoobtainapricelist,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.forensicassurance.com

orcontactamemberofoursalesteam:William – (248) 962-3186 ([email protected]) Dorothy – (248) 962-3184 ([email protected])

proficiency and competency testing services 2018

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