OSAC Lexicon

The lowest amount of an analyte that can be reliably measured in a specimen by a laboratory test;may be a decision point, a limit of detection, or a lower limit of quantitation.

choice of method(s) (3.35) and the sequence of analysis 

Note 1 to entry: An analytical strategy is based in part on relevant case questions and background information.

The minimum peak height (Relative Fluorescence Units, in RFUs) requirement at and above which detected peaks on a DNA electropherogram can be reliably distinguished from instrument background noise.

1) The minimum height requirement at and above which detected peaks on a STR DNA profile electropherogram can be reliably distinguished from background noise; peaks above this threshold are generally not considered noise and are either artifacts or true alleles. 2) A 'Relative Fluorescence Units' (RFU) level determined to be appropriate for use in the PCR/STR DNA typing process; a minimum threshold for data comparison is identified by the specific forensic laboratory through independent validation studies.

A method of estimating stature that involves measuring all bones constituting the components of stature, summing those measurements, and correcting for the missing soft tissue.

A creature or living being, other than human. The legal definition of animal may be further defined by local law.

atypical polarization colors which occur due to variation with wavelength of the refractive index (very few substances display this characteristic).
 

A skeletal deviation from normal. It is typically nonlethal or nondisruptive to function; it may or may not have clinical or forensic significance.

A deviation from typical skeletal anatomy; often nonlethal or nondisruptive to function; it may or may not have clinical or forensic significance.

The American National Standards Institute, Inc.

Prior to death.

Antemortem (AM) records are records collected from live subjects, and can come from any part of friction ridge skin. Friction ridge skin is present on the palmar and plantar surfaces of the hands and feet. As such, impressions from the fingers and palms of the hands as well as the toes and soles of the feet can all be used for personal identification purposes. During antemortem friction ridge print recovery, the living subject is usually manipulated against the recording medium. Postmortem (PM) records are records collected from deceased subjects or remains. During postmortem friction ridge recovery, the recording medium is usually manipulated against the deceased subject in the same manner as the antemortem records. Unless a manual comparison is available, an AFIS search of an unidentified postmortem impression is used as a tool to find antemortem records in order to establish or verify the deceased subject's identity.

Antemortem (AM) records are impressions of friction ridge details collected from live subjects, and can come from any part of friction ridge skin. Friction ridge skin is present on the palmar and plantar surfaces of the hands and feet. As such, impressions from the fingers and palms of the hands as well as the toes and soles of the feet can all be used for personal identification purposes. During antemortem fingerprint recovery, the living subject is usually manipulated against the recording medium. Postmortem (PM) records are records collected from deceased subjects. During PM fingerprint recovery, the recording medium is usually manipulated against the deceased subject in the same manner as the antemortem records. Unless a manual comparison is available, an AFIS search of an unidentified postmortem fingerprint record is used as a tool to find antemortem fingerprint records in order to establish or verify the deceased subject's identity.

A skeletal condition, defect, or anomaly that occurred before an individual’s death, with evidence of a biological reaction.

A skeletal defect that occurred before an individual’s death and shows evidence of osteological reaction.

Relating to having origins in human activity.

in facial identification, an ex- plicit measurement of landmarks on a face and a comparison of these measurements between two samples.

request by the provider of the item of inspection to the inspection body for reconsideration by that body of adecision it has made relating to that itemNOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 17000:2004, definition 6.4.

Request by the provider of the item of inspection to the inspection body for reconsideration by that body of a decision it has made relating to that item

A request by a forensic science service provider to the inspection body for reconsideration by that body of a decision, finding, or other action.

This refers to devices that have successfully completed a test of fingerprint capture devices that is performed in accordance with procedures established by the FBI in EBTS Appendix F. [2013a] 

Person who has submitted an application for admission into the certification process.

Permission for a product or process to be marketed or used for stated purposes or under stated conditions. Approval can be based on fulfillment of specified requirements or completion of specified procedures.

Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction

Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction

See shaping.

A high-temperature luminous electric discharge across a gap or through a medium such as charred insulation.

Identifying and documenting a fire pattern derived from the identification of arc sites used to aid in determining the area of fire origin or spread.

Melting of conductors and conducting surfaces as a result of electrical arcing. The characteristics of arc melting are described in 9.11.1.1.

The location on a conductor with localized damage that resulted from an electrical arc.

Arcing associated with a matrix of charred material (e.g., charred conductor insulation) that acts as a semiconductive medium.

discipline in which an examiner is competent
 

A structure, part of a structure, or general geographic location within a fire scene, in which the 'point of origin' of a fire or explosion is reasonably believed to be located. (See also 3.3.149, Point of Origin.)

The act of using a canine to search a designated area for a target odor/scent.

Surface measurement method that produces a topographical image of a surface, which may berepresented mathematically as a height function z (x, y) of two independent variables (x, y).