DFS Accreditation

Overview

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) operates a system of forensic laboratories that provide scientific testing and analysis in criminal cases for law enforcement, medical examiners, prosecutors, and the courts in Virginia. DFS has maintained continuous laboratory accreditation since 1989, demonstrating compliance with nationally and internationally recognized standards and requirements.

Standards

DFS laboratories are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and comply with:

• ISO/IEC 17025 (testing and calibration laboratories)
• ANAB developed forensic testing and calibration accreditation requirements
• FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing and DNA Databasing Laboratories

Certificates of Accreditation

The following DFS laboratories are accredited:

• Breath Alcohol Laboratory Certificate (.pdf, 277.22 KB)
• Central Laboratory Certificate (.pdf, 278.22 KB)
• Eastern Laboratory Certificate (.pdf, 279.22 KB)
• Northern Laboratory Certificate (.pdf, 278.76 KB)
• Virginia Department of Forensic Science Crime Laboratory System Certificate (.pdf, 278.21 KB)
• Western Laboratory Certificate (.pdf, 280.03 KB)

Scope Documents

Each laboratory’s scope document defines the types of testing or calibration it is accredited to perform under ISO/IEC 17025. Available scopes include:

• Breath Alcohol Laboratory Scope (.pdf, 250.68 KB)
• Central Laboratory Scope (.pdf, 291.04 KB)
• Eastern Laboratory Scope (.pdf, 278.62 KB)
• Northern Laboratory Scope (.pdf, 271.77 KB)
• Western Laboratory Scope (.pdf, 249.25 KB)