The Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology boasts two laboratories with ISO accreditation: the Nebraska Public Service Laboratory (NPSL) and the Human DNA Identification Laboratory. ISO/IEC is the international standard specifying the general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing laboratories.
NPSL, a sub-unit of the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation in 2022. This achievement occurred following an assessment and review of the NPSL’s quality management system to include policies, procedures, and technical expertise. Accreditation was granted for forensic testing of seized drugs.
The laboratory performs testing on suspected controlled substances as part of contractual relationships with law enforcement agencies. Testing activities performed include identification of unknown substances such as crystalline material, liquids, blotter paper, pills, plant or fungal material, powders, and food items, as well as determination of methamphetamine purity.
The NPSL has been performing this testing since 2017, said Emily McCutchen, NPHL/NPSL manager. “We decided in order to make our testing more defensible in the court of law, as well as prove that we have been performing high-quality testing all along, we would seek ISO accreditation.”
Originally, the lab began performing tests for the Omaha Police Department and has steadily expanded since then. More recently, Douglas County shut down its illicit substance testing laboratory in 2024 and that work has now moved to NPSL as well. McCutchen said, “We now have approximately 29 contracts with various law enforcement agencies and defense attorneys across Nebraska and performed testing on over 2,500 items in 2024.”
There are only two laboratories in the state that perform this testing, NPSL and the Nebraska State Patrol Laboratory in Lincoln. State tax dollars fund the patrol lab, which does not charge for its testing, while NPSL’s work is fee for service. “The reason many law enforcement agencies come to NPSL for testing is because we have a fantastic turn-around time,” she said. “We generate results, qualitative results, in five to seven business days and have the ability to support rush requests within one business day.”
McCutchen said the ISO certification recognizes high-quality testing and an effective quality management system. “It is all about ensuring accuracy in your test results as well as ensuring long-term accuracy,” she said. “What we test today under this set of standards is going to get the same results as what we test later under the same set of standards, and the testing that we perform in our laboratory will be comparable to testing performed at another laboratory that is also ISO accredited.”
NPSL is not the only lab at the medical center to be ISO-certified. The Human DNA Identification Laboratory received ISO accreditation in 2011.
“The DNA lab started out as part of the Molecular Laboratory. And at that time the state of Nebraska did not have the capability to do DNA testing for crime,” said Mellisa Helligso, manager and forensic DNA analyst at the lab. “We had the State Patrol (lab), but they were just doing serology, looking for the presence of blood or semen, and blood typing. But we did not really have anything DNA-based.
“We were already using these techniques for different testing within the hospital. The molecular lab does tissue typing for transplants, virology testing, and tests for genetic diseases. They took a couple of people that worked in those areas and opened the forensic DNA lab in 1996.
“We are in a unique setup, in that we are located at a medical center that also provides testing for law enforcement,” she said, mostly in Nebraska but also some in surrounding states. While most of their work is performed for law enforcement, they also do some testing for defense attorneys.
In 2024, the team tested 842 DNA samples and testified in 20 criminal trials. In all instances, they have no stake in a particular outcome, she said, adding, “the results are the results.” The lab is set up as a fee for service payment system and is able to complete preliminary DNA testing within a week or two of receipt. This is helpful when trying to identify homicide suspects or a serial rapist, she said.
The ISO certification, and maintaining that certification, is a serious time commitment but well worth it, she said. “What is nice about that is when I testify, I know that other experts in my field have looked at our procedures, our reports, our testing, and they have confirmed that we are following the 700+ standards that are in place,” she said. “This ensures we are doing things appropriately, so we can be confident that our results are accurate and reliable.”