The Crime Laboratory Accreditation Programs of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) are voluntary programs in which any crime laboratory may participate to demonstrate that its management, personnel, operational and technical procedures, equipment and physical facilities meet established standards. The programs are managed by a paid staff which works under the direction of a Board of Directors. The members of the Board of Directors are elected by the Delegate Assembly. The Delegate Assembly is composed of the directors of all accredited laboratories and laboratory systems. The ASCLD/LAB Bylaws establish the authority and responsibilities of the Board, the Delegate Assembly and the staff.

Accreditation is one part of a laboratory's quality assurance program which should also include proficiency testing, continuing education, and other programs to help the laboratory provide better overall service to the criminal justice system.

ASCLD/LAB now offers accreditation under two programs. Any Crime Laboratory seeking accreditation, whether for the first time or renewing accreditation, may elect to seek accreditation under either the ASCLD/LAB Legacy Program or the ASCLD/LAB-International Program.

The ASCLD/LAB Legacy Program is the program under which laboratories have been gaining accreditation for more than twenty years. Information on the Legacy Program may be obtained by selecting the Legacy link.

The ASCLD/LAB-International Program is a new program which was approved by the Delegate Assembly by mail ballot in 2003. Effective April 1, 2004, ASCLD/LAB will receive applications for accreditation under the ASCLD/LAB-International program which is based on the ISO 17025 standards and the ASCLD/LAB-International Supplemental Requirements. The Supplemental Requirements are based on the essential elements of the ASCLD/LAB Legacy program and the ILAC G-19 standards. Information on the International Program may be obtained by selecting the International link.