AMYA

POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE MEDICAL LABORATORY

Bonum Est Sui Diffusivum SCIENCE PROGRAM

COURSE MODULE
Forensic Laboratory Science
Course No.: MT 211
Course Title: Forensic Laboratory Science
Unit: 5 Units (3 Units Lecture; 2 Units Laboratory)
Pre-/Co-Requisite: MT 102, MT 103, MT 207
Year Level: 2nd Year, Summer

Course Description:
This course deals with the study of basic principles, procedures, techniques, protocols, and
applications of Medical Laboratory Science in the Criminal Investigation Laboratory. This focuses
on the discovery of new information about or deepening knowledge of death investigations,
crime scene reconstruction, mobile device forensics, etc. This course is beneficial to a medical
laboratory scientist who is planning to work in a forensic science laboratory.

Design Framework:
Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Goal ORIENT LEARN EVALUATE LEARN EVALUATE LEARN EVALUATE LEARN EVALUATE
VMGO Self-Directed Term Exam Self-Directed Term Exam Self-Directed Term Exam Self-Directed Term Exam
Details Lecture 1-4 Case SGD Lecture 5-7 Case SGD Lecture 8-10 Case SGD Lecture 11-13 Case SGD
Total Hrs. 0.5 36 6 36 6 36 6 36 6
VMGO: Vision, Mission, Goals, Objective SGD: Small Group Discussion

Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, the learners are expected to:
A. Cognitive
1. Define and discuss principles in Criminal or Forensic Investigations
2. Demonstrate procedures done in a Crime Laboratory
3. Develop advanced protocols in the investigation of criminal cases through research
studies.
B. Affective
1. Acknowledge the role of a laboratory scientist in the establishment of diagnosis in
Crime Laboratory
2. Commit to honest practice and strong work ethics so helpful in the search for justice.
C. Psychomotor
1. Detect inconsistencies and manipulations in the work-up of investigations
2. Assume a stance in the truth of every case in the Crime Laboratory regardless of
personal interests
Learning Module No. 1

Topic: Introduction to Forensic Laboratory Science

Materials: Laptop and Internet Connection
Assessment: MCQ Post-Test via Infinit

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the session, the students should be able to:
1. Define Forensic Science
2. Identify the goals and functions of a Forensic Laboratory Unit
3. Explain the function of Medical Laboratory Scientist in a Forensic Laboratory
4. Familiarize themselves with the structure of the Forensic Science Diagnosis

What is Forensic Science?

Forensic science, sometimes referred to as criminalistics, applies the knowledge of science to the
definition and enforcement of laws. Criminalistics is a branch of forensic science that is involved in the
collection, analysis, and interpretation of physical evidence produced by criminal activity.1 This field of study
involves several scientific disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics. Forensic science is not a branch of
law enforcement, and forensic scientists are not law enforcement officers. Despite how they are portrayed
on television, forensic scientists do not interrogate and arrest suspects and do not usually investigate crime
scenes. The main duties of a forensic scientist are to analyze physical evidence, interpret the results and
testify in a court of law. Forensic scientists are expert witnesses who express opinions as to the significance
of laboratory findings.

What is the role of Forensic Science in Criminal and Civil Law?

Forensic scientists help determine cause of death, identify perpetrators of crimes, identify bodily
remains, track the electronic transfer of money, investigate internet fraud and identity theft, and
reconstruct vehicular accidents. Laws regulate the safety and quality of our food and water, the potency
of medications, motor vehicle emissions, and pesticides used on crops. It would be impossible to monitor
compliance with laws if not for accurate laboratory testing. Forensic science is becoming increasingly
broad in its application to law and criminal investigations.

Crime Laboratory Analyses

Crime laboratory analyses are only relevant if the specimens received are properly collected,
transported and preserved. Crime scene evidence is often collected and transported by trained police
officers. In cases of personal assaults, such as rape, forensic nurses in emergency departments collect
evidence from victims. A significant difference between clinical and forensic specimens is maintaining
chain of custody for forensic evidence. The possession of physical evidence must account for every
person who has handled the evidence, and the evidence must be maintained in such a way to prevent
tampering. If the chain of custody documentation is not complete, the laboratory results will not be
permitted in a court of law.

Testing Crime Laboratory Specimens

 A common testing principle in forensic analysis is comparison. Physical evidence from an
unknown source is collected at a crime scene, and this unknown or questioned specimen is compared to
a specimen from a known source or reference sample. For example, a DNA profile can be determined on
a blood stain from a crime scene. This profile can be compared to the DNA profile of a suspect. If the two
profiles have a high probability of a match, this places the suspect at the crime scene. Without a
reference sample for comparison, the DNA profile has little value. Ballistics, fingerprinting, and hair and
fiber analysis all rely on comparison testing.

Forensic Pathologist

Medical examiners are pathologists trained to perform postmortem examinations. Forensic

pathology is a specialization area performed by medical examiners to determine the cause of death as
well as the postmortem interval, the length of time since death occurred. Both are often critical to crime
investigations. During an autopsy, medical examiners examine the body and clothing, and they collect
tissue and fluids for microscopic examination and laboratory testing. A wide variety of specimens can be
analyzed. Toxicologic testing can be performed on blood, gastric contents, and cerebrospinal fluid for
drugs of abuse and prescription medications. Vitreous humor, fluid in the eyes, can be tested for
potassium to help determine the postmortem interval. Many of the methodologies used in a forensic
science laboratory are also used in clinical laboratories.

Forensic Laboratories in the United States

The United States has no national system of forensic laboratories; local law enforcement agencies
operate their own crime laboratories. The services each laboratory provides depends on funding,
personnel, equipment, and crime statistics. The majority of forensic laboratories are publicly funded by a
federal, state, or local government unit. There are nearly 500 public forensic laboratories in the United
States and 50 to 100 private forensic laboratories.1 In contrast, Great Britain has a national system of
regional laboratories under the direction of the government’s home office. The United States does,
however, have several federal agencies with forensic laboratories. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, a
unit of the Department of Justice, has one laboratory in Quantico, VA. This laboratory supports the
investigation efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and if requested, will test certain types of
physical evidence for other law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories.

The field of forensic science has changed substantially since the first laboratory was established in Lyons
France under the direction of Edmund Locard in 1910. The first forensic laboratory in the United States
was established by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1923. Forensic science involves many areas of
scientific investigation. In this short series of articles, we discuss DNA analysis, forensic microbiology and
forensic toxicology.

Forensic Laboratories in the Philippines

The PNP Crime Laboratory was first organized as a Fingerprint Section of the G-2 Division of the
Military Police Command Armed Forces in the West Pacific of the United States Army (AFWESPAC) in
May 19, 1945. It was upgraded into a branch and was renamed as Crime Laboratory Branch of the Criminal
Investigation Service, which was the investigative arm of the Philippine Constabulary (PC).

The laboratory underwent several reorganizations and changes of names. It was reorganized on
May 26, 1959 as a separate unit of the PC under Table of Organization and Equipment 3-07 (TO & E 3-07)
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and was renamed as PC Forensic Laboratory. On December 1,
1960, pursuant TO & E 03, the unit was renamed as the PC Central Crime Laboratory, and on June 28,
1961, it was activated as a unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines pursuant to Special Order Number
453 GHQ AFP. The National Headquarters of the Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame was constructed during
the term of then Philippine Constabulary Brigadier General Vicente Raval on December 4, 1968. The
construction was completed on July 22, 1969, coinciding with its official designation as the PC Crime
Laboratory (PCCL) pursuant to Headquarters Philippine Constabulary General Order Number 23.

The crime laboratory saw continuous improvement in the following years in order to serve the
people more effectively. In 1975, scientific pieces of equipment were acquired through the War Reparations
Program of the Japanese Government. Organizationally, the crime laboratory was expanded in 1978,
under the authority of HPC GO Nr 23 wherein twelve (12) regional units were established.

With the merging of the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police (INP) on May
16, 1985, PCCL was re-designated as PC/INP Crime Laboratory Service (CLS) as per HPC GO Nr 64. By
virtue of Republic Act 6975 (DILG) enacted in 1990, the PC/INP was abolished, paving way to the creation
of the Philippine National Police. Consequently, the PNP Crime Laboratory Service was established as an
Administrative Support Unit on January 30, 1990. In 1996, NAPOLCOM Resolution Nr 96-058 spelled out
the streamlining program of the PNP and designated the PNPCLS as a National Operational Support Unit.
Likewise, it dropped the word Service from the crime laboratory’s name and would simply be known as the
PNP Crime Laboratory.

Flow Chart of Request for Forensic Laboratory Examination

Guide Questions:
1. Discuss the role of forensic scientists.

2. Describe the role of medical examiners.

3. Describe the chain of custody of forensic evidence.

4. Describe the organization and function of forensic laboratories in the Philippines and in
the United States.

REREFENCES:
1. Houck MM, Siegel JA. Introduction. In: Fundamentals of Forensic Science, 2nd ed. Boston:
Elsevier; 2010.
2. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ah
UKEwjM7fOVtJLtAhXGy4sBHYvPCgcQFjANegQIIxAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmfpeckley.yolasite.
com%2Fresources%2FUse%2520of%2520Forensic%2520Sciences%2520in%2520Police%2520
Investigation.ppt&usg=AOvVaw10fX6s8bYse6IToqcFSQpQ