Abstract:
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Regular proficiency testing of examiners is required at accredited forensic laboratories. Proficiency test results are sometimes treated as a proxy for error rates in legal proceedings, even though they were not designed with that goal. Commercial forensic proficiency tests have been shown to differ substantially from casework, in terms of tasks and difficulty. Some laboratories, primarily federal forensic facilities, have adopted blind proficiency tests. Blind tests offer advantages. They must resemble actual cases, can test the entire laboratory pipeline, and avoid changes in behavior from an examiner knowing they are being tested. While not a substitute for error rate studies or foundational research in specific disciplines, blind proficiency tests provide better data on both analyst performance and forensic techniques. Blind proficiency tests are mandatory in the medical and drug testing industries. However, in 2014, only 10 percent of forensic laboratories were using blind proficiency tests, compared to 20 percent in 2002. This presentation discusses the obstacles to blind testing in forensic laboratories and what can be gained by implementing it.
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