Overview

The Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) is an accredited forensic testing laboratory that provides forensic examination results and reporting, as well as scientific opinions in a timely manner.

All information about examinations and handling of evidence items is maintained by the CFS and is available upon request.

Report types

Interpretive report

Interpretive reports provide a formal, written release of information documenting the results of the laboratory examinations, including the:

  • interpretation of any findings
  • opinions
  • strength of associations between two objects or an individual and an object
  • statements of limitations, if required
  • purpose of the examination
  • name of the report writer
  • identification and description of items examined, tests performed and results obtained
  • conclusions, including significance of associations and limitations
  • alternative explanations, if required
  • notes of clarification and remarks statements, if required
  • evidence continuity and disposition information
  • attribution statement for evidence
  • references to statement of qualifications, technical information sheets or report guides for additional information

Analytical report

Analytical reports are a formal, written release of information documenting the results of the laboratory analysis only, including limited interpretations, if required. It will include the following information:

  • purpose of the examination (not required for toxicology analytical reports)
  • the name of the report writer (not required for toxicology analytical reports)
  • identification and description of items examined, tests performed and results obtained
  • notes of clarification and remarks statements, if required
  • evidence continuity and disposition information
  • attribution statement for evidence
  • references to statement of qualifications (not required for toxicology analytical reports), technical information sheets or report guides for additional information

Notification letter

Notification letters are a formal written release of preliminary investigative information. Letters include:

  • Identification and description of items examined.
  • Investigative information pertaining to database upload or notification of a hit. For example: Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) or Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (CIBIN)/National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) upload or hit or Paint Data Query (PDQ) search results for hit and run.
  • Continuity information.
  • Reference to supporting information, if required.
  • Clarification notes and remarks statements, if required.

Letter of opinion

A letter of opinion is a formal letter providing a scientific opinion based on the information or a scenario provided to the scientist. All reports will include the following information:

  • address of the reporting laboratory
  • report title
  • CFS case file number and request number
  • submitter's file number (incident number), if applicable
  • contact information for the report writer or the section
  • report recipient and names of the investigators, if required
  • reference to the parties involved
  • summary of the opinion
  • statement of the opinion with assumptions and limitations, if required
  • references to technical information sheets, if required

Additional information not contained in reports

All additional information, about the examinations conducted and the methods used not contained in the report, is available in the supporting information or case record.

This information includes:

  • evidence continuity reports
  • details of examination and analysis methods
  • dates of the examinations/analyses performed
  • examination notes
  • submission information

Any information maintained in the case record is available upon request.