Support to improve forensic techniques in Honduras

The European ICRIME project “Cooperation in Criminal Investigation in Central America to Combat Crime and Drug Trafficking at the International Level” is working with laboratories in Honduras to develop validation plans, choosing the analytical methods on which to work based on the characteristics of the laboratory and available resources. 

With this objective, a specialist from the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (INTCF) will work at the Honduran Institute of Legal Medicine, accompanying specialists from the biology service during the validation of preliminary tests to detect DNA in biological fluids: blood, semen and saliva. 

Method validation is the way in which a laboratory can demonstrate that its analytical procedures are the most suitable to obtain a reliable and reproducible result. Before starting to validate a method, it must be clearly identified by checking that it conforms to scientific evidence. It is also necessary to guarantee that in performing this analysis, certain working conditions related to the equipment, reagents, personnel and sample processing are met.  

Due to the current pandemic situation, the expert is working from Spain, providing the service with the necessary advice regarding the validation of the techniques. For three months, the expert will support Honduran specialists to ensure that the analysis methods are the most appropriate, helping the laboratory to comply with international quality standards for its future accreditation processes. 

The I-CRIME project, coordinated by the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and jointly managed by FIIAPP, works in the process to integrate the Central American peoples through criminal investigation. Its objective is to improve the security of the citizens in the SICA countries and increase the effectiveness of criminal justice in prosecuting organised crime and drug trafficking at the international level.