Parameters derived

Definition and/or formula

Remarks

Ncf

Number of case files received by the forensic science

laboratory per year

525 for 2014 and 732 in 2015

Ncf,d

Number of case files received by a specific laboratory

discipline per year

Three disciplines apply: forensic chemistry, toxicology and

biology/DNA

Sf

Sample influx (number of samples per case file)

Based on records for each case file received at sample receiving office

Ns

Total number of samples

Determined for each of the three disciplines and also for the whole FSL for 2014 and 2015

Cps

Average cost per sample:

Forensic chemistry = $29.0

Forensic toxicology = $14.0

Forensic Biology/DNA = $42.0

Based on price list data averaged for each discipline and applied to each sample

Cpcf

Cost per case file

(1)

This is determined per specific sample type and price in practice; in this study, Cps was used for simplicity

CTd

Total cost in each discipline

(2)

Summation of all case file into the specific discipline

CT

Total cost for FSL

(3)

Total cost based only on analysis costs, determined from the three forensic science disciplines (chemistry, toxicology and

biology/DNA).

Average sample influx per discuipline

(4)

Average sample influx for each forensic discipline for comparison of workload among laboratories

Modal sample influx for each discipline

Most frequent sample influx value in each forensic science discipline

and

Statistical parameters skewness and kurtosis for sample influx time series applied fpor each forensic science discipline

Used to express the second moments of spread in the sample influx data for each forensic science discipline