Which of the following plays a critical role in forensic toxicology by ensuring substances are properly tested and analyzed?

Quality assurance is fundamental in forensic toxicology because it establishes systematic procedures and protocols that ensure the testing and analysis of substances are accurate, reliable, and consistent. This includes the implementation of standard operating procedures, the validation of methods, and the regular maintenance and calibration of equipment. By adhering to rigorous quality assurance practices, labs can minimize errors and produce trustworthy results that are crucial in forensic investigations and legal proceedings.

Operational management focuses on the day-to-day functioning of a lab, which supports quality assurance but does not directly address the verification of testing methods and outcomes. Assay calibration pertains specifically to ensuring that testing methods are properly adjusted and validated but is a part of the broader quality assurance framework. Research development involves investigating new testing methods or chemicals but does not directly influence the established testing processes and their accuracy as quality assurance does.