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| [[File:Nuclear Forensics (02813659) (14418094348).jpg|right|300px]] | | <div class="nonumtoc">__TOC__</div> |
| '''Title''': ''What are the key elements of a LIMS for forensics and medical examiners?''
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| '''Author for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas
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| '''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]
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| '''Publication date''': June 2022
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| ===Summary=== | |
| A [[Forensic science|forensics and medical examiners lab]] may analyze anything from body fluids and bone fragments to metals and fire debris as part of their broad commitment to answering questions of interest to a legal system. These [[laboratory]]-based investigations see scientists collect, preserve, and analyze these types of [[Sample (material)|samples]] (i.e., evidence) using a variety of special laboratory equipment and techniques. Given their role in verifying the status of evidence, the forensics lab will also see its laboratorians take part in legal proceedings, requiring even more strict requirements for data and evidence management. This broad array of analytical techniques and set of legal implications means such labs turning to [[Informatics (academic field)|informatics]] solutions like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) will require their [[information management]] solutions to meet the specific needs of their lab.
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| This brief topical article will examine the typical forensics and medical examiners lab's [[workflow]] and suggest a base set of LIMS functionality (i.e., system requirements) that is critical to fulfilling the information management and workflow requirements of this lab type.
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| '''Note''': Any citation leading to a software vendor's site is not to be considered a recommendation for that vendor. The citation should however still stand as a representational example of what vendors are implementing in their systems.
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| ===Forensics laboratory workload, workflow, and information management===
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| The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) duly notes the practice of forensic science is multi-disciplinary, spanning from forensic chemistry, molecular biology, and toxicology to anthropology and entomology.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Office of Legal Policy |date=26 November 2021 |title=Forensic Science |url=https://www.justice.gov/olp/forensic-science |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref> This suggests that depending on what a forensics lab or researcher is focusing their efforts on, workflows may differ, sometimes significantly. These workflows may be further complicated by activities outside the laboratory, including collecting evidence, giving testimony, providing forensic psychiatry services, or conducting forensic engineering investigations.<ref name=":0" /> This typically results in diverse types of information and data being collected both physically and digitally inside and outside the forensics lab, at all hours of the day. Additionally, the integrity of that information, data, and evidence is vital to establishing legal provenance and positively developing forensic intelligence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McCartney |first=Carole |date=2015-01-02 |title=Forensic data exchange: ensuring integrity |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00450618.2014.906654 |journal=Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences |language=en |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=36–48 |doi=10.1080/00450618.2014.906654 |issn=0045-0618}}</ref> This is where a well-developed and -maintained LIMS comes into play.
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| The use of LIMS in crime labs has grown over time, with the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reporting 75% of publicly funded crime labs using a LIMS in 2002 and 84% in 2009.<ref name="DuroseCensus12">{{cite web |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpffcl09.pdf |format=PDF |title=Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories, 2009 |author=Durose, M.R.; Walsh, K.A.; Burch, A.M. |publisher=Bureau of Justice Statistics |date=August 2012 |accessdate=14 June 2022}}</ref> (A separate survey by Levy in 2011 found 82% of surveyed death investigation offices were using LIMS.<ref name="LevyImplem13">{{Cite journal |last=Levy |first=Bruce P. |date=2013-03 |title=Implementation and User Satisfaction With Forensic Laboratory Information Systems in Death Investigation Offices |url=https://journals.lww.com/00000433-201303000-00016 |journal=American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology |language=en |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=63–67 |doi=10.1097/PAF.0b013e31827ab5c6 |issn=0195-7910}}</ref>) BJS' 2014 report did not discuss this statistic<ref name="DuroseCensus16">{{cite web |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/pffclrs14.pdf |format=PDF |title=Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories: Resources and Services, 2014 |author=Durose, M.R.; Burch, A.M.; Walsh, K.A.; Tiry, E. |publisher=Bureau of Justice Statistics |date=November 2016 |accessdate=14 June 2022}}</ref>, but with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) program reporting 88% of labs testing controlled and non-controlled substances secured by law enforcement operations using a LIMS<ref name="NFLISSurv19">{{cite web |url=https://www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/DesktopModules/ReportDownloads/Reports/13121NFLISdrugSurveyRpt6Nov29.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318022453/https://www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/DesktopModules/ReportDownloads/Reports/13121NFLISdrugSurveyRpt6Nov29.pdf |format=PDF |title=NFLIS-Drug 2019 Survey of Crime Laboratory Drug Chemistry Sections Report |author=National Forensic Laboratory Information System |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |date=October 2019 |archivedate=18 March 2021 |accessdate=14 June 2022}}</ref>, it appears LIMS adoption by forensics and medical examiners labs is continuing to increase. This is important because the processes within these labs match up well with what a LIMS has to offer, with a LIMS capable of enhancing caseload management, reporting, health data security, evidence control, and more.<ref name="LevyImplem13" /><ref name="NFLISSurv19" /><ref name="BollingerALand20">{{Cite web |author=Bollinger, K.; Salyards, J.; Satcher, R. et al. |title=A Landscape Study of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) for Forensic Crime Laboratories |url=https://forensiccoe.org/private/5ff49f614eb00 |format=PDF |publisher=Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences |date=August 2020 |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="NIJReport19">{{Cite web |author=National Institute of Justice |title=Report to Congress: Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices |url=https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/report-congress-needs-assessment-forensic-laboratories-and-medical |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice |date=December 2019 |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref>
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| It's clear that between any two forensics labs, workflows will likely differ, depending on what functions are performed. The 2014 BJS survey found that among publicly funded crime labs, an average of five different forensic functions were performed in or near the lab. The most common activities included identification of drugs and other controlled substances, analysis of biological specimens, analysis of fingerprints, analysis of firearms and toolmarks, and analysis of crime scenes and trace evidence.<ref name="DuroseCensus16" /> Some functions, such as toxicology analysis and forensic biology casework, also get outsourced to other labs, with 38% of publicly funded crime labs outsourcing at least one function in 2014.<ref name="DuroseCensus16" /> This outsourcing, which may occur as a result of increased forensic testing demand or lack of in-house resources inevitably puts the forensic workload on other labs that may not necessarily identify purely as forensics labs, muddying the waters further.
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| Additionally, the workflows of a single lab may change over time as new areas of forensic practice are added to the lab or medical examiners office, requiring additional specialized equipment and LIMS to better manage those new areas of practice.<ref name="NIJReport19" /> The NFLIS, for example, notes that controlled substance testing labs "are constantly dealing with the need to identify and test for new or emerging drugs," requiring reference spectra, standards, procedures validation, and staff who are familiar or can be trained on the new procedures.<ref name="NFLISSurv19" /> It may take time to integrate this sort of new testing into existing workflows; however, a well-maintained configurable LIMS can arguably speed that process along by housing the reference spectra, tracking the inventory of standards, managing the workflows, and documenting staff training on the procedures.
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| Finally, workflows and workload can get modified due to increasing demand for forensic laboratory services, creating backlogs.<ref name="DuroseCensus16" /><ref name="NFLISSurv19" /><ref name="NIJReport19" /> These backlogs may occur at no fault of the lab<ref name="DuroseCensus16" /><ref name="NIJReport19" /> and be in part due to loss of critical staff, an influx of emerging drugs, workload and responsibility increases, lack of funding, and evidence collected for testing that actually doesn't need to be tested.<ref name="NFLISSurv19" /><ref name="NIJReport19" /> Given the state of increasing workloads and backlogs, a LIMS is more important than ever to help improve efficiencies in the laboratory, monitor turnaround times, give insights into backlogs, and better track evidence that doesn't or no longer requires analyses. Of course, as a forensics and medical examiners lab grows and takes on more functions to better meet demand, a highly configurable LIMS also helps integrate those new, related workflows into the dynamics of the lab.
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| ===Base LIMS requirements===
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| What follows is a list of system functionality important to most any forensics and medical examiner laboratory, with a majority of that functionality found in many vendor software solutions.<ref name="BollingerALand20" /><ref name="NIJReport19" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Alcestis - Features |url=https://www.alcestis.org/features.htm |publisher=Michigan Public Health Institute |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Medical Examiner System |url=http://www.porterlee.com/mes.html |publisher=Porter Lee Corporation |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=CoronerME - Features |url=https://coronerme.com/features/ |publisher=CoronerME.com |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Next Generation Forensic Case Management |url=https://www.necsws.com/forensic-case-management/ |publisher=NEC Software Solutions UK Limited |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Forensic Filer Online |url=https://www.forensicfiler.com/forensic-filer-online.aspx |publisher=Summit IT Solutions |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Coroner Software Features |url=https://www.coronercasemanager.com/features/ |publisher=Ragefish |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Forensic Advantage Systems |url=https://caliberpublicsafety.com/forensic-advantage/ |publisher=Harris Computer Systems |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Cohero - Powerful Features |url=https://cohero.com/features/ |publisher=Cohero |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LIMS-plus |url=https://justicetrax.com/products-and-services/lims-plus/ |publisher=JusticeTrax, Inc |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=QUINCYTECH |url=https://www.quincytech.com |publisher=Quincy Technology Solutions, Inc |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Douglas, S.E. |date=May 2022 |title=21. Forensic case and data management |work=LIMSpec 2022 R1 |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=LII:LIMSpec/Specialty_Laboratory_Functions#21._Forensic_case_and_data_management |publisher=LIMSwiki.org |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref>:
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| '''Test, sample and case management'''
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| *Sample, property and evidence log-in and management, with support for unique IDs
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| *Support for pre-logging of death and evidence data before physical materials arrive
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| *Body reception, location and disposition support
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| *Barcode and RFID support
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| *End-to-end sample, body, property and evidence tracking
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| *Custom and industry-specific test and method management, including for breath alcohol and sexual assault testing
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| *Test, instrument, subpoena and other event scheduling
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| *Test requesting
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| *Configurable screens and data fields
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| *Analytical tools, including data visualization, statistical analysis and data mining tools
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| *Data import and export
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| *Robust query tools
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| *Document and image management
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| *Workflow management
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| *Case management, including case assignment, reassignment and prioritization, with support for unique and third-party IDs:
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| **Story-related entry for cases
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| **Geolocation capture and support
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| **Mass casualty event support
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| **Cluster and crime scene mapping tools
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| **Mobile and offline data entry support for remote work
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| **Dashboard view of all pertinent information for a case, including criminal case status
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| **Dashboard or other view showing case and test assignment, status, and backlog
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| '''Quality, security and compliance'''
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| *Quality assurance / quality control mechanisms
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| *Standardized terminology via built-in dictionaries and medical classification codes like ICD
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| *National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IAC&ME) accreditation support
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| *Results review and approval
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| *User qualification, performance and training management
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| *Audit trails and chain of custody support
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| *Configurable and granular role-based security
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| *Configurable system access and use (log-in requirements, account usage rules, account locking, etc.)
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| *Electronic signature support
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| *Data encryption and secure communication protocols
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| *Archiving and retention of case and other data and information
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| *Configurable data backups
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| *Status updates and alerts
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| '''Operations management and reporting'''
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| *Customizable rich-text reporting, with multiple supported output formats
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| *Custom and industry-specific forms, including body release, autopsy authorization, media release, cremation authorization, subpoena, etc.
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| *Support for state-specific death certificates
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| *Industry-compliant labeling
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| *Email integration
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| *Instrument interfacing and data management
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| *Instrument calibration and maintenance tracking
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| *Inventory and reagent management
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| *Third-party software and database interfacing
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| *Integrated (or online) system help
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| *Hour, mileage, and expense tracking
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| *Turnaround time calculation
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| ===Specialty LIMS requirements===
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| As noted previously, the DOJ points out many disciplines that are used in and near the forensics laboratory.<ref name=":0" /> It is beyond the scope of this article to address the system functionality for every single discipline. However, an attempt has been made to cover the most important disciplines and sub-disciplines associated with forensics and medical examiners labs in regards to LIMS functionality.
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| ====Forensic pathology and histology====
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| The workflows of a forensic pathology and histology (or histopathology) lab tend to be marginally different from their purely clinical counterpart. That said, a LIMS that addresses forensic pathology and histology will still need to address (or allow users to)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lau |first=Gilbert |last2=Lai |first2=Siang Hui |date=2008 |title=Forensic Histopathology |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7122801/ |journal=Forensic Pathology Reviews |volume=5 |pages=239–265 |doi=10.1007/978-1-59745-110-9_13 |pmc=7122801}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Healthcare - Anatomic Pathology |url=https://www.labware.com/industries/healthcare#anatomic |publisher=LabWare, Inc |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Sunquest CoPathPlus |url=https://www.sunquestinfo.com/software-and-services/copathplus/ |publisher=CliniSys Group Limited |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=NovoPath 360 |url=https://www.novopath.com/ |publisher=NovoPath, Inc |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=TD HistoCyto |url=https://www.technidata-web.com/en-gb/solutions-services/solutions/histopathology |publisher=Technidata SAS |accessdate=13 June 2022}}</ref>
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| ====Forensic neuropathology====
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| ====Forensic toxicology====
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| ====Forensic DNA and molecular testing====
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| ====Forensic anthropology and entomology====
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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| <!---Place all category tags here-->
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| [[Category:LIMS FAQ:Forensics]]
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| [[Category:LIMS FAQ:Guides, white papers, and other publications]]
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