Sistema de gestión de calidad aplicado al laboratorio veterinario forense: Revisión

Abstract

In recent years there was great growth in forensic investigations in Brazil. Forensic biology has become an area of great impact in civil and criminal investigation which encompasses several fields, among them, laboratory analysis of livestock. This article aims to present concepts, demands and ways to develop activities of a quality management system in forensic veterinary work. Forensics can be used to help in the civil and/or criminal spheres, and in studies and research in the areas of animal, public, environmental and individual health (one health). In investigations, evidence is generally present and may be physical, chemical or microbiological in nature. The collection of evidence must be based on biosecurity standards and respect the chain of custody, which refers to the capacity of guaranteeing the identity and integrity of residues of any nature. It comprises tracing and allows for its chronological order to be documented and maintained. The demand for forensic veterinary work can be implemented in public research and teaching institutions or in private services, all of which have trained professionals and specialized laboratories that can perform tests and counter tests for technical-scientific expertise. The quality of a product or service is a fundamental factor for its insertion in the market. Forensic veterinary work can develop technical-scientific activities to meet the demands in facilitating justice through research of infectious agents of diseases in animals, toxic substances and contaminants, or the occurrence of crimes involving animals, contamination of environmental fauna, and fraud in foods of animal origin for human or animal consumption. The Quality Management System (QMS), including Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and ISO 17025, enables forensic veterinary laboratories to adopt analyses using technical-scientific procedures with quality, reliability, punctuality and biosecurity, which are important in legal proceedings.