The LabRAT data collection tool is a workbook that collects and automatically calculates business measures about caseloads, staffing, budgets, and other important factors. While the LabRAT alone is a useful tool for a laboratory manager, submitting a completed LabRAT form allows us to generate a benchmarking report for the laboratory. By submitting a LabRAT form, laboratories can participate in FORESIGHT to better evaluate their efficiencies and effectiveness.
The LabRAT form is designed to allow laboratories to enter whatever level of data they have. We know that operational data, personnel data, and financial data may be available within the laboratory or scattered across several other agencies in your jurisdiction.
We’ve made it easy for laboratories to get started in Project FORESIGHT with the Level 1 data, which only requires a minimal amount of data. We have enough data that we can proxy values for the rest of the LabRAT form to give you an idea of where your laboratory is at. Level I data includes the number of cases submitted in each area of investigation with the associated allocation of personnel across those areas. The corresponding financial data requests the total salary and benefits in those areas of investigation and the total laboratory expenditures for capital equipment, consumables, and total remaining expenditures. Here’s a video to give you an introduction to LabRAT Level 1.
The optional Level II worksheets enable a more detailed report to each laboratory with the submission of greater detail within casework, personnel, and financials.Why add more data, why go to Level 2? Because it’s your laboratory and your data will be better because it will be specific to your operations. To get an idea of Level 2 data, here’s a video to orient you.
Begin by downloading the LabRAT data collection form below. The LabRAT data collection workbook separates the minimum data necessary (Level I worksheets) from the maximum data submission (Level II worksheets). At a minimum, complete the following:
“Open Me First” worksheet
“Casework Level I” worksheet, which asks for cases submitted to the laboratory for each investigative area and the full-time equivalent employment in each investigative area for the corresponding fiscal year.
“Expenditures Level I” worksheet, which asks for personnel expenditures (salaries, wages, employer-paid benefits, temporary employee and overtime payments) for each investigative area and laboratory total expenditures for capital, consumables, and the lump sum of any other expenditures.
With this data, we can provide your laboratory with a full report. The “Summary Measures” worksheet will give you immediate feedback with this minimum data reporting.
Optional data may be entered in the Level II worksheets. All of your Level I casework and expenditures data is immediately transferred to the Level II worksheets. Any additional detail on casework (e.g., TAT, backlogs, items, samples, tests, reports) or expenditures will enhance the precision of you report. Partial reporting in the Level II worksheets is acceptable. Only answer those data requests that you are able to easily report.
The target submission date is January 15 of each calendar year for the prior fiscal year data. Use this email address for all submissions and correspondence:
New participants are encouraged to submit separate LabRAT workbooks across multiple years. To be considered for ASCLD’s Maximus award, submissions must be received at least one month prior to the annual ASCLD Symposium.
Project FORESIGHT collects data from forensic laboratories and service providers, digital evidence units, and medical examiners and coroners.
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