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Human Identification Technologies, Inc. (HIT) announced this week that it has been recognized as the first ASCLD/LAB International accredited DNA laboratory in California.
HIT President Blaine Kern and Laboratory Director Mehul B. Anjaria termed the accreditation "a significant achievement" for the company.
Click on one of the seven tracks below to hear Mehul B. Anjaria talk about the ASCLD accreditation, what it means for the company, and how it’s changed the way the lab does business.
The majority of the 300-plus forensic laboratories accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) are accredited under their ‘Legacy’ program and will soon be required to upgrade to ASCLD/LAB-International accreditation status.
Preparation for the accreditation began in early 2005 with hundreds of hours of initial planning for construction of the HIT facility, validation of the laboratory, and design of the laboratory’s quality system.
“From the start, we realized the commitment was going to be huge, but our passion to create a unique laboratory designed exclusively for criminal forensic DNA casework kept us motivated,” Anjaria said.
HIT currently has 8 forensic scientists housed in a 7,000 square foot facility. The increased caseload that will be generated from the accreditation will allow HIT to fill its current facility to capacity in the coming months, and begin preparations for a planned second facility capable of accommodating 100 forensic scientists.
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