Standardization in forensic toxicology—The United States experience

Abstract

AbstractConsensus based standards are created by subject matter experts in conjunction with stakeholders and include requirements for a specific field such as forensic toxicology. Standards for forensic science provide requirements and guidance in areas such as quality management, validation, testing, reporting, traceability, and testimony. The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science was formed to assist in the development of forensic standards. In coordination with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board, developed documents are taken through an American National Standards Institute accredited process that includes public notification, a public comment period, and comment adjudication. Documents published by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board are freely accessible to the public. This article presents an overview of the standards development process and the standards, best practices and guidelines currently published in the field of forensic toxicology in the United States.This article is categorized under: Toxicology > Analytical