Quality Assurance

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Quality assurance is the responsibility of everyone. It governs evidence collection, examination, reporting of results, and subsequent return to the submitting agency. Regulation is provided by laboratory protocol and accreditation agencies. Organizations such as AFTE or SWGGUN may provide guidelines for the establishment of best practices by individual laboratories.

The following table outlines those involved and their respective responsibilities,

Quality Assurance Roles
Individual / Organization / Agency	Responsibility	Resources
Examiner	Execute laboratory protocols Participate in protocol development	Firearm and toolmark examiner knowledge, skills, and abilities
Laboratory	Approval of technical protocols Provision of policies and procedures Provision of adequate facilities, equipment, and supplies Provision of safe working environment	Individual laboratory policy and procedures manual
Accreditation agency (FQS-I or ASCLD/LAB)	Assess laboratory compliance with standards set forth by accreditation agency (e.g., ISO 17025 and supplemental guidelines)	www.forquality.org www.ascld-lab.org
AFTE	Provide mechanism for the exchange of information regarding current and evolving techniques Provide resources for training, field support, and casework	www.afte.org
Discipline-specific bodies (SWGGUN)	Develop consensus guidelines for the firearm and toolmark discipline Disseminate guidelines, studies, and other findings that may be of benefit to the firearm and toolmark community	www.swggun.org

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