HSA forensics lab accreditation renewed

| 24/02/2019
CNS Local Life
Forensic Chemistry Analyst Beverley Nunez (left) and Quality Manager Angela Tanzillo-Swarts with the newest accreditation certificate (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Forensic Science Laboratory accreditation to international ISO 17025 standards for forensic testing has been renewed for another four years. The renewal followed an audit by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). The Cayman laboratory, which is operated by the Health Services Authority (HSA) and has maintained its accreditation since 2009, undergoes annual internal audits and biennial external assessments.

“The reaccreditation recognises the continued quality work that we at the Cayman Islands Forensic Science Laboratory perform according to international standards, so the people in our islands can have confidence in their test results,” said Forensic Quality Manager Angela Tanzillo-Swarts in an HSA press release.

The international accreditation process focused on areas such as maintenance of equipment, qualification and competency of the scientists, and verification of methodologies. A laboratory’s fulfilment of the requirements means the laboratory possesses both the technical competence and management system that are necessary for it to deliver technically sound and valid test results consistently, stated the HSA in the press release.

“The road to accreditation and reaccreditation involves hard work, consistency, and a dedicated team,” said HSA Deputy Medical Director Dr Courtney Cummings. “Our laboratory continues to succeed in the process of continuous assessment and improvement, maintaining its credibility and ability to compete and succeed on the world stage.”

The Forensic Science Laboratory offers expertise in a number of areas, including forensic biology and DNA testing, DNA databasing services, DNA paternity testing, forensic toxicology testing, forensic drug analysis, pathology, and forensic criminalistics testing in selected areas, said the press release.

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Category: Medical and Health

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Impressive. What you’ expect of a forensic lab. But no less hard to achieve. (I say as a fellow lab worker.)