ISSN: 0022-1198
Page Count: 4

Quality Assurance Testing of an Explosive Trace Analysis Laboratory
Crowson, A
Trace Laboratory Manager, Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Kent

Todd, CC
Principal forensic investigator, Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Kent

Hiley, RW
Head of Chemistry and Research, Forensic Explosives Laboratory, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Fort Halstead, Kent

(Received 10 December 2000; accepted 29 February 2000)

Abstract

During 1989, the Forensic Explosives Laboratory (FEL) established a weekly quality assurance testing regime in its explosives trace analysis laboratory. The purpose of the regime is to prevent the accumulation of explosives traces within the laboratory at levels which could, if other precautions failed, result in the contamination of samples and controls. This paper describes the regime and summarizes the results from approximately eight years of tests. Lessons learned and improvements made over the period are also discussed.

Keywords:
forensic science, quality assurance, explosives, trace analysis, gas chromatography, chemiluminescence

Paper ID: JFS14910J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14910J
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