Open Proficiency Test
Definition
A proficiency exercise in which the examiner knows they are being tested. Measures the laboratory's capability under conditions of heightened attention but may overestimate real-casework performance because examiners may apply greater care and seek peer consultation.
- Key feature
- Examiner knows they are being tested
- Measures
- Capability under heightened attention
- Limitation
- May overestimate real casework performance
- Contrast
- Blind proficiency test
Common questions
Why might an open proficiency test overstate an examiner's real-world accuracy?+
Knowing a sample is a test can prompt extra caution, peer consultation, or slower deliberate analysis that would not occur on a routine casework sample handled under normal workload pressure.
How does a blind proficiency test address this gap?+
A blind test is submitted disguised as ordinary casework so the examiner is unaware they are being evaluated, giving a truer picture of routine performance but requiring more careful program design to insert and track.
Related terms
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- Blind Proficiency Test
- A proficiency exercise in which the test materials enter the laboratory as apparent casework and the examiner does not know they are...
- CTS (Collaborative Testing Services)
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- Document Control
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- Forensic Science Regulator Act 2021
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- ISO/IEC 17025
- The international standard for testing and calibration laboratories, published jointly by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. It...
- NABL T-126
- Technical Requirement T-126 issued by India's National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories: the discipline-specific criteria for forensic science laboratories, covering...
- UKAS
- United Kingdom Accreditation Service; the sole national accreditation body for the UK and ILAC MRA signatory. Accredits forensic science providers under ISO/IEC...