Sistema de gestão da qualidade aplicado ao laboratório veterinário forense: revisão

Abstract

In recent years there wasgreat growth in forensic investigationsin Brazil. Forensic biology has become an area of great impact in civil and criminal investigationwhich encompassesseveral fields, among them,laboratory analysis of livestock. This article aims to present concepts, demands and ways to develop activities of a quality management system in forensic veterinarywork. Forensicscan be used to help in the civil and/or criminal spheres,and in studies and research in the areas of animal, public, environmental and individualhealth (one health). In investigations, evidence is generally present and may be physical, chemical or microbiological in nature. The collection of evidence must be based on biosecurity standards and respect the chain of custody, which refers to the capacity ofguaranteeingthe identity and integrity of residues of any nature. It comprisestracingand allowsfor itschronological order to be documented and maintained. The demand forforensic veterinaryworkcan be implemented in public research and teaching institutionsor in private services,all of which have trained professionals and specialized laboratories that can perform tests and counter tests for technical-scientific expertise. The quality of a product or service is a fundamental factor for its insertion in the market. Forensic veterinary workcan develop technical-scientific activities to meet the demands infacilitatingjustice through research of infectious agents of diseases in animals, toxic substancesandcontaminants,or the occurrence of crimes involvinganimals, contamination of environmental fauna,and fraudin foodsof animal originfor human or animal consumption. The Quality Management System (QMS), including Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and ISO 17025,enables forensic veterinary laboratories to adopt analyses using technical-scientific procedures with quality, reliability, punctuality and biosecurity, which are important in legal proceedings.