The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) Crime Lab received international accreditation under the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors – Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) – International Program on October 16.

LBPD’s lab earned accreditation in five disciplines, including drug chemistry, toxicology, firearms, latent prints and crime scene.

Previously accredited under the ASCLD/LAB – Legacy Program, the LBPD’s new title of being accredited under the International Program was more difficult to achieve as it has more requirements and is more stringent, the LBPD said in a statement.

According to the LBPD, requirements to become internationally accredited are as follows:

• • • In the ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation program, ASCLD/LAB conducts a program of surveillance visits between full assessments
    • The laboratory must conduct its own annual internal audit and reveal to ASCLD/LAB the results of that internal audit in an Annual Report to ASCLD/LAB (one of several components of the annual report)
    • A robust program of proficiency testing requiring the use of test providers approved by ASCLD/LAB
    • Personnel performing examination and analysis of casework are required to be proficiency tested on a yearly basis for on-going competency
    • Every fourth year, a full reassessment is conducted to retain accreditation
    • All ongoing operations must be carried out in accordance with applicable accreditation requirements. If a laboratory detects a substantive quality issue (which is normal in all working labs), the lab must take appropriate corrective action and disclose the issue and the action taken to address the issue to ASCLD/LAB.
    • Accredited laboratories are required to create and maintain appropriate quality records and technical records
    • Technical records (test data and notes, etc.) must be sufficient to support all reported test results
    • Quality records (such as chain of custody of evidence, instrument maintenance, calibration records, reagent preparation, etc.) must be maintained in accordance with all applicable accreditation requirements.

The LBPD crime lab began preparing for international accreditation in March 2011, the LBPD said. More than 332 crime laboratories around the world have been accredited under the International Testing Program, including the Orange County Crime Lab, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Secret Service, Department of Chemistry in Malaysia, Health Sciences Authority in Singapore, New Zealand Institute of ESR, and Walmart, to name a few.

“This achievement is the highest level of accreditation a crime laboratory can attain, and a major milestone,” said LBPD Police Chief Jim McDonnell in a statement. “Forensic analysis supports our ability to investigate crimes, and is a vital law enforcement tool. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our crime lab employees, and demonstrates their commitment to the residents of our community.”