With many forensic laboratories being extremely busy and perhaps not having sufficient time to review procedures on a regular basis to determine effectiveness and efficiency of testing procedures I can offer this service. Testing requirements can also change, especially in the current climate of new psychoactive drugs appearing frequently on the internet, and methods may need to be reviewed regularly to ensure significant drugs are not missed or to ensure that efficient methodologies are being used.
Whether we like it or not competitive tendering is here to stay. A good tender can make the difference between winning or losing large contracts. Scientific advice can assist in the preparation of a good tender aimed at meeting customers’ needs in the most scientifically efficient way and thereby enabling a competitive price to be submitted. Efficient methodologies also enable faster turnaround times which customers are continually seeking to drive down. Having been involved in tendering for police contracts under the National Forensic Framework Agreement in my role with the Forensic Science Service, I am now able to offer scientific advice to assist other Forensic Service Providers in preparation of their bids.
Quality must always be at the forefront of forensic science. With many years experience in working in a UKAS ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory and having managed the quality of a large toxicology laboratory I can offer advice on quality issues in working laboratories, whether it be to attain accreditation or to extend the scope of testing offered. I also spent time in Abu Dhabi working with a police toxicology testing laboratory there to assist them in successfully attaining ISO 17025 accreditation.