Sept. 15, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ramit Plushnick-Masti
Public Information Officer
media@houstonforensicscience.org
713-929-6768
The Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) has been awarded for the first time accreditation
under the ISO/IEC 17025 “General Requirements for the Competence of Testing Laboratories”
standard. To achieve this goal, the laboratory demonstrated it met or exceeded global
requirements in its management, technical and quality operations. Of the eight forensic
disciplines offered by the lab, four sections were assessed during this accreditation process:
Biology/DNA, Controlled Substances, Firearms and Toxicology.
“We have been working long and hard to receive this accreditation and to continually improve
the quality of the laboratory’s work,” said Lori Wilson, HFSC’s quality director.
Since 2005, the lab has been accredited by the Texas Department of Public Safety, essential for
its evidence and testimony to be admissible in courts statewide.
“HFSC’s mission is to collect, analyze and preserve evidence while adhering to the highest
standards of quality, objectivity and ethics. The ISO 17025 accreditation helps us meet these
objectives,” said HFSC CEO and President Dan Garner.
The lab, formerly known as the Houston Police Department Crime Lab, has been managed by
Houston Forensic Science Center, Inc., a separate legal entity, since April 3, 2014.
HFSC is overseen by a board of directors appointed by the Mayor of Houston and approved by
City Council. HFSC oversees and manages the independent forensic laboratory that includes
what was previously the HPD’s crime lab, crime scene unit and parts of the identification
division. HFSC currently operates in eight forensic disciplines and is expanding.
Further information regarding HFSC is available at hfsctx.gov
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