Study on strategy to establish quality assurance/quality control system in Japanese forensic toxicology practices.

A study was made of possible strategies to establish quality assurance/quality control systems in Japanese forensic toxicology laboratories and`to address the particular requirements of their work.This was achieved by visiting forensic toxicology laboratories in the‘UK，USA and Canada，examining reference documents and literature obtained from Western forensic toxicologists，and then having discussions with our Japanese colleagues.As a result of our research，we strongly recommend that：1)Testing laboratories should：·prepare standard operating procedure mans which conto international forcommend that：1)Testing laboratories should：2)Laboratories requesting tests to be performed by other laboratories should check on the nature，expertise and ability of the laboratory concerned，and should take full responsibility for the test samples(identification，integrity，chain-of-custody)；3)The Govemment should：·carry out administrative reforms relating to forensic_toxicology，·simplify the procedure for obtaining certified reference materials，·defray adequate expensic_toxicology，

A study was made of possible strategies to establish quality assurance/quality control systems in Japanese forensic toxicology laboratories and` to address the particular requirements of their work. This was achieved by visiting forensic toxicology laboratories in the 'UK, USA and Canada, examining reference documents and literature obtained from Western forensic toxicologists, and then having discussions with our Japanese colleagues.As a result of our research, we strongly recommend that :1)Testing laboratories should :・prepare standard operating procedure manuals which conform to international forensic toxicology laboratory guidelines,・document all actions performed by the laboratory and its personnel,・validate analytical methods and each analytical run,・take corrective action for results which deviate from the specified acceptance criteria ;2)Laboratories requesting tests to be performed by other laboratories should check on the nature, expertise and ability of the laboratory concerned, and should take full responsibility for the test samples (identification, integrity, chain-of-custody) ;3)The Govemment should :・carry out administrative reforms relating to forensic _toxicology,・simplify the procedure for obtaining certified reference materials,・defray adequate expenses for consultation and drug testing ;4)All forensic pathologists, toxicologists and serologists should participate in discussions on how to reform their laboratories.