CRIME LABORATORY PROFICIENCY TESTING RESULTS, 1978-1991 .1. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

The proficiency testing of crime laboratories began in the mid-1970s a nd presently assumes an important role in quality assurance programs w ithin most forensic laboratories. This article reviews the origins and early results of this testing program and also examines the progress of proficiency testing in allied scientific fields. Beginning in 1978, a fee-based crime laboratory proficiency testing program was launched and has grown to its present level involving almost 400 laboratories worldwide. This is the first of two articles that review the objective s, limitations and results of this testing from 1978 through 1991. Par t I reviews the success of laboratories in the identification and clas sification of common evidence types: controlled substances, flammables , explosives, fibers, bloodstains, and hairs. Laboratories enjoy a hig h degree of success in identifying drugs and classifying (typing) bloo dstains. They are moderately successful in identifying flammables, exp losives, and fibers. Animal hair identification and human hair body lo cation results are troublesome. The second paper will review the profi ciency of crime laboratories in determining if two or more evidentiary samples shared a common origin.