To obtain or maintain a permit to operate a forensic laboratory, a person or licensee shall ensure that the forensic laboratory: Establishes and follows policies and procedures for a comprehensive quality assurance program designed to monitor and evaluate the ongoing and overall quality and safety of the total examination and forensic analysis process; Maintains a quality assurance program that: Continually evaluates the effectiveness of the laboratory’s policies and procedures; Routinely revises policies and procedures based on the results of ongoing evaluation; Identifies and corrects problems; Assures: Accurate, complete, and reliable reporting of results of examinations and analyses; Technical procedures are validated and are accepted practice in the forensic discipline; and Adequate and competent employees; Requires documentation of all quality assurance and quality control activities; and Includes policies and procedures for: Handling and preservation of evidence; Calibration and maintenance of equipment; Handling, maintaining, and securing laboratory records including case records and reports; Evaluation and approval of employees; Laboratory security; Identifying and implementing corrective actions; Documenting and investigating complaints; The operation of individual characteristic databases, where appropriate; and Data integrity and ethics; Develops and maintains: An organizational chart of all employees; Job requirements and a job description for each contractor; and Employee records that include, but are not limited to: Job requirements and a job description for each employee; Educational background and qualifications; Curriculum vitae; Court testimony evaluations and a record that the evaluations are reviewed with each examiner and analyst; Documentation of successful completion of a training program set forth by the laboratory, including competency testing; Authorization to perform independent casework; and Performance evaluations; Establishes and maintains a forensic laboratory safety program; Employs appropriately trained employees and possesses equipment to conduct the scope of forensic services offered; Maintains reference literature in physical or electronic form that covers all disciplines and subdisciplines for which services are offered; Designates an individual as the quality assurance manager; Defines and maintains a document retention policy; Maintains a facility that is designed to ensure the integrity of the forensic analyses and the evidence; Conducts: Administrative review of all cases and reports before issuing a report; and Technical review, of no less than 5 percent of cases as determined by the laboratory director or designee, to ensure conclusions and supporting data are within the constraints of scientific knowledge; and Establishes a mechanism to address unresolved discrepant conclusions between an analyst and the technical reviewer.