OSAC Lexicon

The extent to which different observers obtain the same result when measuring the same behavior.

The portion of the palm along the base of the fingers.

Any reaction to an odor/scent, which may include: (1) A noticeable, readable, physical change in behavior in a detector canine during the search when the canine reacts to (i.e., is interested in) an odor/scent. (2) Pattern of behavior following the canine's initial reaction to a trained odor/scent when the canine displays motivation to remain at or trace the trained odor/scent to its source. (See change of behavior.)

Any person, entity, or organization, including their representatives, with statutory obligations or whose legal rights or interests may be affected by the investigation of a specific incident.

pattern observed during conoscopic observation of an anisotropic material which consists of a combination of extinction positions and interference colors corresponding to the full cone of directions by which the sample is illuminated. 

DISCUSSION—Conoscopic observations are typically made by insert- ing a Bertrand lens into the body tube or by removing an eyepiece and viewing down the body tube.

Experiments performed to determine substances that inhibit or affect the intensity of the assay signal.

Non-targeted substances (i.e., matrix components, other drugs and metabolites, internal standard, impurities) which may impact the ability to detect, identify, or quantitate a targeted analyte.

Non-targeted analytes (i.e., matrix components, other drugs and metabolites, internal standard, impurities) which may impact the ability to detect, identify, or quantitate a targeted analyte

evaluation of part or all of the forensic process (3.25) when applied to the same or similar items (3.33) and conducted under the same or similar conditions by two or more forensic service providers (3.26). Note 1 to entry: A proficiency test (3.42) is a type of interlaboratory comparison

Numbers in the parenthesis refers to additional terms in the standard.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASTM E3255-21 Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemical Analysis, ANSI/ASB 153 Standard Practices for Proficiency Testing for Forensic Toxicology Laboratories and Breath Alcohol Programs, ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science.

A person who takes part in a dialog (Oxford English Dictionary Thumb Edition, 10thEdition, 2002). In Record Type-11, an interlocutor is any speaker in the recording whois not the subject of the ANSI/NIST-ITL transaction. An interlocutor may be the subjectof the record, within the transaction, however.

An evaluation of practitioner performance against pre-established criteria by means of intralaboratory comparisons.

internal source A non-ISO/IEC 17043 accredited producer of a proficiency test. For example, this source may be the footwear and tire examiner’s own agency or another non-commercial source.

The accumulation of test data within the laboratory to demonstrate that established parameters, software settings, formulae, algorithms and mathematical functions perform as expected; and that the information/results/data obtained is correct and consistent with expected values.

The accumulation of test data within the laboratory for developing the laboratory standard operating procedures and determining the limits of the method(s). Internal validation demonstrates that the established protocols for the technical steps of the test and for data interpretation perform as expected in the laboratory.

1) In general, the accumulation of test data within the laboratory for developing the laboratory standard operating procedures and demonstrating that the established protocols for the technical steps of the test and for data interpretation perform as expected in the laboratory. 2) In the context of probabilistic genotyping, the accumulation of test data within the laboratory to demonstrate that established parameters, software settings, formulae, algorithms and mathematical functions perform as expected; and that the information/results/data obtained is correct and consistent with expected values.

The accumulation of test data within the laboratory for developing the laboratory standard operating procedures and determining the limits of the method(s). Internal validation demonstrates that the established protocols for the technical steps of the test and for data interpretation perform as expected in the laboratory.

The accumulation and evaluation of test data within the laboratory for developing the laboratory standard operating procedures and demonstrating that the established protocols for the technical steps of the test and for data interpretation perform as expected in the laboratory. The parameters (e.g., any variable that impacts interpretation) included in a test protocol used by the laboratory should be supported by validation studies conducted with samples of known origin similar to the types of samples routinely accepted and tested by the laboratory

The acquisition of test data within the laboratory to verify the functionality of the system, the accuracy of statistical parameters, the appropriateness of analytical and statistical parameters, and the determination of limitations of the system

The accumulation of test data within the laboratory for developing the laboratory standard operating procedures and demonstrating that the established protocols for the technical steps of the test and for data interpretation perform as expected in the laboratory.

See validation.

International Criminal Police Organization.

A Category 1 scoring function. The score is explainable and has quantifiable meaning.

Explanations for the observations, data, and calculations.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASB 040 Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, ANSI/ASB 038 Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods, ANSI/ASB 015-24 Standard for Examining Friction Ridge Impressions, ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 166 Best Practice Recommendation for Comparison and Evaluation of Friction Ridge Impressions, ANSI/ASB 175 Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events, ANSI/ASB 123 Standard for Routine Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocol, ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 165 Best Practice Recommendation for Analysis of Friction Ridge Impressions, ANSI/ASB 167 Standard for Reporting Results from Friction Ridge Examinations

A qualitative description of the DNA data (e.g., partial data, mixture data).

Occurring among different species.

Between members of different species

In classical conditioning, the time elapsed between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. In habituation, the time between exposures to a stimulus.

A schedule in which reinforcement is delivered on the basis of the amount of time before a response can be reinforced. The interval may be fixed or variable.

evaluation of part or all of ther forensic process (3.25) when applied to the same or similar items (3.33) and conducted under the same or similar conditions by two or more examiners (3.20) within the same forensic service provider (3.26)

Numbers in the parenthesis refers to additional terms in the standard.

Also reference in ANSI/ASTM E3255-21 Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemical Analysis, ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, ANSI/ASB 153 Standard Practices for Proficiency Testing for Forensic Toxicology Laboratories and Breath Alcohol Programs.

Occurring within the same species.

The incorporation of genes of one species into the gene pool of another species as a result of successful hybridization and back crossing.

For the purpose of Chapter 29, the terms site and scene will be jointly referred to as the investigation site, unless the particular context requires the use of one or the other word.

interpretation  guided by observations (3.36) made and aimed at generating explanations or estimations

Note 1 to entry: Investigative interpretation can be used in an investigation or in a judicial setting.

A group of individuals working on behalf of an interested party to conduct an investigation into the incident.

In MS, the ratio of the instrument responses between two previously identified diagnostic ions.

In MS, the ratio of the instrument responses between two previously identified diagnostic ions.

The physicochemical process of producing a gas-phase ion. In the mass spectrometer this typically occurs within the ion source. Several mechanisms of ionization exist such as chemical and electron ionization.

The physicochemical process of producing a gas-phase ion. In the mass spectrometer this typically occurs within the ion source. Several mechanisms of ionization exist such as chemical and electron ionization.

Direct or indirect alteration or interference in the instrument response due to the presence of co-eluting compounds