Quality Assurance

​​​​​Forensic Science Quality Objectives

lab tech looking at mechanical equipment

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  • To achieve and maintain accreditation under the international standard “General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories" (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 ).
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  • To abide by forensic science accrediting body's supplemental requirements for scoped disciplines, and all other statutory, regulatory standards required to provide forensic services.

  • To use and support sound standards and guidelines of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) registry.

The Quality Assurance team monitors all Division of Forensic Science (DFS) standard operating procedures. The team is committed to compliance with state and federal regulations as well as ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation requirements for Testing Laboratories in the scoped disciplines of Biology ( DNA Casework, DNA Databank), Firearms/Toolmarks, Seized Drugs (Controlled Substances) Friction Ridge (Latent Prints, Friction Ridge Database), Impressions (Footwear), Toxicology - General Testing, and Materials/Fire Debris and Explosives (Trace). Field, and Digital & Video Imaging accreditation in these areas are excluded.

Quality Support Goals

The Quality Assurance Team works to uphold goals within the system of quality established by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to:

    • Provide high quality error-free forensic analysis which is able to withstand rigorous challenges for court admissibility;
    • Provide impartial reporting of scientifically accepted forensic analyses;
    • Maintain the integrity of evidence by protecting it from loss, deterioration, and contamination;
    • Ensure forensic science staff are trained in the skills necessary to perform their work;
    • Ensure continual improvement of the quality system;
    • Achieve the forensic science quality objectives.

Accreditation is a voluntary program. This program ensures that the laboratory provides effective and quality service. The laboratory program is vigorously reviewed to ensure that it is operating under accepted guidelines that are practiced internationally and routinely.

The Division of Forensic Science is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Forensic Accreditation through ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for Testing Laboratories in scoped areas of Biology ( DNA Casework, DNA Databank), Firearms/Toolmarks, Seized Drugs (Controlled Substances) Friction Ridge (Latent Prints, Friction Ridge Database), Impressions (Footwear), Toxicology - General Testing, and Materials/Fire Debris and Explosives (Trace); field, and digital & video imaging accreditation are excluded. For more information see the Accreditation Certificate  and Scope of Accreditation .

The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories (WSCL) scoped areas only are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, “General requirements for the competency of testing and calibrations laboratories.” These standards allow for simplified reporting based upon a written agreement with our customers.  The Crime Laboratories choose simplified reporting to improve readability and avoid misunderstandings. WSCL reports reflect accreditation only as specified by the Scope of Accreditation​. WSCL reports provided by areas outside the Scope of Accreditation are not accredited.

The Transmittal of Criminal Evidence form​ is used to request evidence testing. By using this form the customer agrees to receive a ​simplified report. More information about the reporting elements are outlined in this simplified report document​.

Many Wisconsin statutes directly affect the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories. Wisconsin statutes supersede accreditation standards or lab requirements. 

Wisconsin Statues and Regulatory Requirements contain some pertinent links of statutory/regulatory requirements that affect the WSCL operations.