ABFM Quality Control & Process Improvement 5

Question 1

A forensic laboratory's turnaround time (TAT) for toxicology cases has been increasing. Which lean tool would BEST help identify where delays are occurring in the workflow?

Accepted Answer

Value stream mapping

Answer

Fishbone diagram

Answer

Control chart

Answer

Pareto chart

Question 2

The term 'uncertainty of measurement' in forensic laboratory reports refers to:

Accepted Answer

A parameter characterizing the dispersion of values attributable to the measurand

Answer

The probability that a result is a false positive

Answer

The difference between two analysts' results for the same specimen

Answer

The instrument's signal-to-noise ratio

Question 3

Which QC strategy involves testing patient samples in duplicate and flagging results when the two values differ by more than a defined limit?

Accepted Answer

Duplicate analysis rule

Answer

Delta check

Answer

Westgard rule 2of3s

Answer

Moving average

Question 4

In the context of forensic laboratory quality management, 'traceability' of measurement results means:

Accepted Answer

Linking a measurement result to a reference standard through an unbroken chain of calibrations

Answer

Documenting the physical location of all evidence items

Answer

Recording analyst initials on every worksheet

Answer

Tracking reagent lot numbers in the LIMS

Question 5

A process capability index (Cpk) of 0.8 for a forensic blood stain collection kit dimension indicates:

Accepted Answer

The process produces defects because it is not meeting specification limits adequately

Answer

The process is highly capable and requires no improvement

Answer

The process is centered exactly on the specification target

Answer

The process variation equals the specification width

Question 6

Which accreditation standard specifically governs the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, including forensic laboratories?

Accepted Answer

ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Answer

ISO 9001:2015

Answer

ISO 15189:2022

Answer

CLIA 88

Question 7

A forensic laboratory implements mistake-proofing on its evidence labeling process so that a barcode scanner rejects any label lacking a case number. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Poka-yoke (error proofing)

Answer

Statistical process control

Answer

Corrective action

Answer

Preventive maintenance