Pre-registration Required

Monday, July 21, 2008       Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

#3 ISO Without Tears

Faculty

Patricia C. Wojtowicz, BA, MSFS Forensic Quality Services, Inc. 13575 58th Street North, Suite 153 Clearwater, FL 33760

Many forensic science laboratory managers are working to prepare for future accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standards. In many cases their agencies have been audited or accredited with respect to other standards and criteria, but ISO 17025 seems to have special significance—and the phrase “ISO Accreditation” often provokes anxiety among even the most “audit-hardened” scientists and managers. One way to lessen anxiety and uncertainty is with knowledge and understanding. This presentation will provide that basic knowledge and understanding about “ISO accreditation” through a discussion of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation processes and standards.

The ISO hierarchy of standards and their place within forensic testing accreditation programs will be described. Guidance will be provided on keys words and phrases in ISO 17025 that will assist workshop participants to understand what is required of them in order to be in conformance with the standards. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the ISO 17025 “hot spots”—those “gaps” between ISO 17025 standards and non-ISO 17025 audit or accreditation program standards that can create problems for the unaware. Suggestions for transitioning to an ISO 17025-conformant management system will also be discussed.

A native of Minnesota, Patricia Wojtowicz joined the FQS-International business unit of Forensic Quality Services, Inc. in Largo, FL, in November 2005 as its Manager of Accreditations. FQS-I offers an ISO 17025 accreditation program for public and private sector agencies involved in forensic testing that is recognized by the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA). She has a BA (Chemistry) from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and an MSFS (Forensic Chemistry) from The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

She spent 26+ years as a forensic scientist for the Virginia Bureau of Forensic Science and the Minnesota BCA Forensic Science Service in St. Paul, MN. She has been a drug chemist; trace evidence analyst; crime scene processor; DNA analyst, technical leader, and section supervisor; laboratory system Quality Manager; and accreditation inspector and DNA auditor. She is a charter member of the Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers (AFQAM) and a Past-President of the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS).