On Monday, September 17, 2012, the NC State Crime Lab began operating under a new set of procedures modeled after International Organization for Standardization (ISO) procedures. The new procedures are posted here. Any analysis conducted by the lab on or after September 17 will be performed according to the new procedures. Attorneys should be careful to be verify which procedures were being used at the time the analysis was conducted in their cases.
The State Crime Lab is one of a handful of crime labs in the country working under ISO procedures. The Crime Lab will be required to operate under these procedures for several months before it can be accredited under these procedures. The Lab is currently accredited by ASCLD-LAB and is seeking ISO-accreditation through ASCLD-LAB and the accreditation board Forensic Quality Services (FQS).
Attorneys, experts, and other members of the public are invited to comment on the new procedures through October 15, 2012 by emailing senior lab management at iso@ncdoj.gov. The Forensic Science Advisory Board, a board of scientists that advises the State Crime Lab, is also reviewing these procedures.
You can read press coverage about the new procedures here and here.