Mandi lab gets accreditation

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 13

The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Mandi, has earned the distinction of becoming the first forensic lab in the state to get accredited its voice comparison procedures in cases requiring speaker identification. The RFSL Mandi has got accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The laboratory achieved this feat in a short time as the process was started in January 2020 and the laboratory staff made efforts during the lockdown period last year and set in place all procedures and protocols. The laboratory accreditation enhances the confidence of the various stakeholders of criminal justice system in the test reports issued by a forensic laboratory said Deputy Director RFSL, Dr Rajesh Verma.

According to Dr NP Dubey, Quality Manager and Assistant Director, an accreditation given by NABL, a Central government body, means the lab meets international standard of quality assurance and reporting.

In pre and final assessment the NABL team appreciated the infrastructure and procedures in place at the laboratory. The pre assessment was conducted on February 22 and the final was from March 19 to 20 during which a four-member team of forensic experts on bio science, chemical science and physical science from Kolkata, Chandigarh, Haryana and Delhi inspected the available infrastructure of the laboratory besides checking the working manuals, health safety, validated material and chemicals used in examination.

The Mandi lab has facilities for forensic examination of the exhibits of chemistry/toxicology, liquor, biology, body fluids, physics/voice analysis, ballistics. The DNA facilities recently introduced at Mandi will also be accredited in due course of time.