OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
A widely used audio file format which uses a lossy audio encoding algorithm defined in the MPEG-1 standard,Audio layer 3. The details of this standard are which is published as ISO/IEC 11172-3.
Magnetic resonance imaging.
Term used interchangeably with facial image.
See backup handler canine.
An organization that has more than one laboratory performing forensic DNA analysis.
A canine trained in more than two disciplines
analog or digital media, including, but not limited to, film, tape, magnetic and optical media, and the information contained therein.
to combine multiple signals into a single signal which can later be separated.
A test providing for simultaneous amplification of multiple loci.
any and all military explosives; also known as ordnance.
the partial focusing and concentration of blast energy caused by incorporating a conical or hemispherical hollow into the end of an explosive cartridge (see shaped charge).
Munsell color is recorded as alpha-numeric Hue Value/Chroma, H V/C (for example, 7.5YR 5/4 or 5R 6/4); neutral colors, lacking a hue tone, (chroma = 0) are designated with a hue of N and omit chroma or list it as zero (N 3/ or N 3/0).
an ordered system to quantify and describe color based on the three qualities or attributes: hue (H), value V), and chroma C) (see Practice D1535).
A device placed on the canine's face to prevent the canine from biting other animals or people, or consuming material.
a skeleton of some kinds of triangles, elongated, usually pointed with a short head usually thicker or broader.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, which is a national repositoryfor missing persons and unidentified decedent records. It is operated by the NationalInstitute of Justice. See www.namus.gov.
Medical definition: A drug (as opium or morphine) that at moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain. Operational usage: An illicit drug (such as marijuana or cocaine) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically addictive and narcotic or not [1].
A dog trained to detect illicit drugs.
The nostrils.
The nostrils.
The upper part of the pharynx connecting with the nasal cavity above the soft palate.
The upper part of the pharynx connecting with the nasal cavity above the soft palate.
International professional organization of physician medical examiners, medicolegal death investigators, and death investigation system administrators that promulgates education and professionalism in medicolegal death investigation and has established and publishes a set of forensic autopsy performance standards. NAME offers a voluntary inspection and accreditation program for medicolegal death investigation offices (see: www.thename.org).
The U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is part of the United States National Library of Medicine (a branch of the National Institutes of Health). NCBI houses a series of databases relevant to biotechnology and biomedicine and provides several bioinformatics tools for searching and analyzing the housed data.
A systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work together seamlessly and manage incidents involving all threats and hazardsregardless of cause, size, location or complexityin order to reduce the loss of life, property and harm to the environment.
A non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. The Dogs and Sensors Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (managed by NIST) focuses on standards and guidelines related to performance of deployed canines, canine handlers and canine teams, and optimization of their integration with electronic detection devices.
the original format of a file.
The scanning resolution used by a specific AFIS, live-scan reader, or other image capturedevice and supported by the originator of the transmission.
Distractor odors that are naturally occurring in the search environment that are not placed by evaluators, observers or participants. Animal remains that were not placed by someone, holes that were dug by wild animals, feces from other animals, etc. (See white noise.)
Distractor odor(s)/scent(s) that are naturally occurring in the search environment that are not placed by evaluators, observers or participants. Animal remains that were not placed by someone, holes that were dug by wild animals, feces from other animals, etc.
Distractor odor(s)/scent(s) that are naturally occurring in the search environment that are not placed by evaluators, observers or participants. Animal remains that were not placed by someone, holes that were dug by wild animals, feces from other animals, etc.
a class name for various genera of fibers (including filaments) of: (1) animal (that is, silk and wool); (2) mineral (that is, asbestos); or (3) vegetable origin (that is, cotton, flax, jute, and ramie).
National Crime Information Center of the FBI.See www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm
not diluted or mixed with any other substance.
not diluted or mixed with any other substance.
Long, thin crystals with pointed ends.
long, thin crystals with pointed ends.
A known odor/scent sample that is used to assess the canine's proficiency in a non-matching odor/scent scenario. The canine is expected to give a negative response.
A test sample similar to the case sample(s) that does not contain the analyte(s) of interest at a reportable concentration. If an internal standard is used in the procedure, it shall be included in the negative control
A known scent sample that is used to assess the canine's proficiency in a non-associated scent scenario. The canine is expected to give a negative response.
A known scent sample that is used to assess the canine's proficiency in a non-associated scent scenario. The canine is expected to give a negative response.
a material of established origin that is used to confirm that a procedure does not produce an unintended result.
An analytical control that consists of the reagents used in various stages of testing without the introduction of sample; no results are expected from a negative control.
NOTE For DNA testing, negative controls include extraction blanks/reagent blanks and amplification blanks. A negative control in DNA testing is used to detect contamination introduced into the assay during the testing process via reagents, disposables, or handling errors (which may impact the results observed from samples tested at the same time).
An analytical control that consists of the reagents used in various stages of testing without the introduction of sample; no results are expected from a negative control. For DNA testing, negative controls include extraction blanks, reagent blanks, and amplification blanks. A negative control in DNA testing is used to detect contamination introduced into the assay during the testing process via reagents, disposables or handling errors (which may impact the results observed from samples tested at the same time).
A type of site check in which no existing scent matches the human scent on the article presented to the canine.
A type of site check in which there is no existing scent associated to the human scent on the article presented to the canine.
An alert/indication given by a canine showing no match to odor/scent, i.e., no matching trail, no substance present, etc.