Proficiency Testing Trends Following the 2009 National Academy of Sciences Report, “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward”

ABSTRACT The 2009 NAS Report made several recommendations, among which was a call for increased accreditation of forensic laboratories and certification of forensic scientists. Proficiency testing, a key quality measure for both accreditation and certification, was also cited in the Report as being mandatory to achieve and maintain these quality indicators. Data from a proficiency test provider was analyzed from the period of 2008–2015 to examine if laboratories were increasing proficiency testing by examining enrollment numbers and the return rate of the completed proficiency tests. Noting a key difference in domestic and international laboratories, additional data from the period of 2004–2015 was analyzed to examine the return rate of proficiency tests against the percentage of reports released to accreditation bodies. The entirety of the data was reviewed to see if the 2009 NAS Report's recommendations were being enacted by looking for an increasing number of accredited laboratories enrolling in proficiency tests, returning the test results, and reporting the proficiency testing outcomes to accrediting bodies in the period following 2009–2010. Despite the recommendations put forward by the National Academies for increased accreditation, certification, and as a result, proficiency testing, the current data from proficiency test enrollment and return rate does not show a marked increase in proficiency testing in U.S.-based forensic laboratories, but does reflect an increase in the ratio of proficiency test results submitted to support accreditation for the laboratories.