Forensic Laboratories

A forensic laboratory is a facility, entity, or site that performs or offers to perform a forensic analysis.  It includes a laboratory owned or operated by the State, a county or municipal corporation in the State, or another governmental entity.  It does not include a forensic laboratory operated by the federal government; or a laboratory licensed or certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Forensic analysis does not include a test of a specimen of breath or blood to determine alcohol concentration or controlled dangerous substance content; forensic information technology; a presumptive test performed at a crime scene; a presumptive test performed for the purpose of determining compliance with a term or condition of community supervision or parole and conducted by or under contract with a county department of corrections or the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; or an expert examination or test conducted principally for the purpose of scientific research, medical practice, civil or administrative litigation, or any purpose other than determining the connection of physical evidence to a criminal act.

OHCQ oversees the regulation of accredited and non-accredited laboratories that perform forensic analyses. Responsibilities of the unit include the investigation of complaints related to the laboratories; annual survey and revisit surveys of non-accredited forensic laboratories; review of all self reported incidents that occur at both accredited and non-accredited laboratories; review of all proficiency tests administered at the forensic laboratories; and all associated activity required for licensure, including on-site inspection and review of documentation from the forensic laboratories and external accreditation organizations.