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DNA - A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory

Second Analyst Review

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Photo of a second analyst reading a vial of DNA evidence in a lab
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

National Quality Assurance Standards require all labs to use a "second reader" system. Thus, a second analyst reads the testing documentation, conducts an independent review, and provides a second conclusion. Some labs have a third level of review by a lab administrator before the report is released. The analyst should stress this fact in court to demonstrate the rigor of the quality assurance process.  

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