Please contact Forensic Assurance to check availability for late-purchase tests.
Standard (Static) Proficiency Test Design: $150
Declared Double-Blind Proficiency Test Design: $200
Description: Each proficiency test includes randomly selected neat and/or mixture samples. All tests contain multiple known-contributor samples and multiple unknown stains collected on various substrates. Participants are required to perform serological screening of the unknown stains, and results from both the serological and DNA analyses will be collected. Forensic Biology Proficiency Tests are distributed six times per year. These distributions are structured to help laboratories meet the frequency requirements outlined by the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) and the FBI Quality Assurance Standards (QAS). Click here for more information.
Unless otherwise requested, known-contributor samples will be provided on untreated bloodstain cards.
Winter 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: November 1, 2024
Distribution: Week of January 20, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: April 21, 2025
Spring 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: November 1, 2024
Distribution: Week of March 24, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: June 23, 2025
Late Spring 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test (April Distribution)
Purchase Deadline: November 1, 2024
Distribution: Week of April 21, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: June 23, 2025
Summer 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: February 28, 2025
Distribution: Week of July 7, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: October 6, 2025
Fall 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: February 28, 2025
Distribution: Week of September 15, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
Late Fall 2025 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test (October Distribution)
Purchase Deadline: February 28, 2025
Distribution: Week of October 13, 2025
Answer Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
Winter 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: October 31, 2025
Distribution: Week of January 19, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: April 20, 2026
Spring 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: October 31, 2025
Distribution: Week of March 23, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: June 22, 2026
Late Spring 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test (April Distribution)
Purchase Deadline: October 31, 2025
Distribution: Week of April 20, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: June 22, 2026
Summer 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: February 27, 2026
Distribution: Week of July 6, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: October 5, 2026
Fall 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test
Purchase Deadline: February 27, 2026
Distribution: Week of September 14, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: December 14, 2026
Late Fall 2026 Forensic Biology Proficiency Test (October Distribution)
Purchase Deadline: February 27, 2026
Distribution: Week of October 12, 2026
Answer Submission Deadline: December 14, 2026
Important notes about the Late Spring (April Distribution) and Late Fall (October Distribution) tests:
• The same contributors are used for both the Spring and Late Spring tests.
• The same contributors are used for both the Fall and Late Fall tests.
• The answer submission deadlines for the Late Spring and Late Fall tests are approximately 9 weeks after distribution, compared to the 13 weeks allowed for other test cycles.
Standard (Static) Proficiency Test Design: All forensic practitioners within a laboratory will receive the same test samples with the same expected results. These tests may include some of the same items used in the double-blind version; however, all samples are unique to each testing cycle. Static proficiency tests follow the same purchase deadlines, distribution dates, and answer submission deadlines as their double-blind counterparts.
Declared Double-Blind Proficiency Test Design: Each forensic practitioner will receive a uniquely composed test containing randomly selected known and/or unknown items. The correct answers are specific to each test, preventing participants from gaining information through discussion with others or with test administrators. These blind elements are built into the test design to reduce bias and increase the integrity of results. Please note that Forensic Assurance tests are declared, meaning the participant is aware they are taking a test.
Please contact Forensic Assurance to check availability for late-purchase tests.