OSAC Standards Bulletin

The OSAC Registry is a repository of high-quality, technically sound published and proposed standards for forensic science. These written documents define minimum requirements, best practices, standard protocols, and other guidance to help ensure that the results of forensic analyses are reliable and reproducible. 

All the standards on the OSAC Registry have passed a rigorous technical and quality review by OSAC members, including forensic science practitioners, research scientists, statisticians, and human factors and legal experts. 

Seven New Standards Added to the OSAC Registry 

Three SDO Published Standards (added April 4, 2023):

• ANSI/ASB Standard 011, Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document Examination, First Edition, 2022 
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126, Best Practice Recommendation for Casting Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence at the Crime Scene, First Edition, 2020 (Errata 1, 2022)
• ANSI/ASTM E3316-22, Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy

Four OSAC Proposed Standards (added April 4, 2023):

• OSAC 2021-S-0011, Standard for the Technical Review of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting
• OSAC 2021-S-0037, Standard Guide for Forensic Photogrammetry
• OSAC 2022-S-0017, Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis  
• OSAC 2022-S-0019, Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers

Standards Open for Comment for OSAC Registry Approval

SDO Published Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for published standards is used to review existing SDO published standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry. Please submit your comments by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 1, 2023, on whether the following SDO published standards should be included on the Registry:

• ANSI/ASB Standard 150, Standard Determination of Medicolegal Significance from Skeletal Remains in Forensic Anthropology, First Edition, 2021. Submit your comments here. 
• HL7 FHIR, HL7 Public Health Work Group, Medicolegal Death Investigation (MDI) – 1.0.0 – CI Build. Submit your comments here. 
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 114, Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Software used in Forensic DNA Laboratories, First Edition, 2022. Submit your comments here. 
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 107, Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring Trigger Pull of a Firearm and Estimating its Uncertainty, First Edition, 2022. Submit your comments here. 

OSAC Proposed Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for OSAC Proposed Standards is used to review OSAC drafted standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry.

•  There are no OSAC Proposed Standards open for comment for Registry approval at this time.

New Published Standards

ASTM recently published the following standard:

• ANSI/ASTM E3115-2017 (2023), Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems (reaffirmation of ANSI/ASTM E3115-2017 which is currently on the OSAC Registry). 

Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

On March 10, 2023, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 2-3 in the ANSI Standards Action. This will begin ASTM’s work on the following standards:

• ASTM WK85367-202x, New Test Method for Identification of Compounds Related to Organic Gunshot Residue (OGSR) by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) (new standard). This standard covers the qualitative analysis of extracts using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify compounds related to organic gunshot residue (OGSR).

• ASTM WK85368-202x, New Test Method for Identification of Compounds Related to Organic Gunshot Residue (OGSR) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) (new standard). This standard covers the qualitative analysis of extracts using electron impact ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-(EI)MS) to identify compounds related to organic gunshot residue (OGSR).

On March 31, 2023, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 2 in the ANSI Standards Action. This will begin ASTM’s work on the following standard:

• BSR/ASB Std 188-202x, Standard for Processing Evidence for the Detection of Friction Ridge Impressions (new standard). This document provides requirements for the processing of evidence in the detection of friction ridge impressions. The standard specifies the broad class of processing techniques and sequences to be applied when processing such evidence. This document does not address the photography or digital enhancement of friction ridge impressions or the validation of the various processing techniques, necessary equipment, or storage requirements.

Standards Open for Comment at SDOs

Stakeholders from the forensic science community are encouraged to provide input on standards as they are being developed at SDOs. For SDO published standards going through the OSAC Registry approval process, the public will have an opportunity to comment on a standard during the SDO’s public comment period but will not be given a second opportunity to comment through OSAC on whether the resulting standard should be placed on the Registry. 

Visit OSAC’s Standards Open for Comment webpage to see the full list of forensic science standards open for comment at SDOs and how to submit your feedback. This page consolidates and tracks comment deadlines for you and will be updated on a weekly basis. It currently includes:

• 4 standards are open for comment at ASB in Biology/DNA (2), Forensic Anthropology (1) and Friction Ridge (1). 
• 2 standards are open for comment at ASTM for Seized Drugs.

OSAC’s Fire & Explosion Investigation Subcommittee Develops Process Map 

OSAC’s Fire & Explosion Investigation Subcommittee has developed a process map that captures the decision-making and process flow details most frequently encountered in the discipline of forensic fire investigation.  

In addition to describing the current state of forensic fire investigation, the Fire Investigation Process Map can also be used to help improve efficiencies in the investigation process, highlight gaps where further research or standardization would be beneficial and assist with training of new investigators. It may also be used to develop specific policies and identify best practices. Read more.

NIST Finalizes Review of Forensic Bitemark Analysis

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized its review of the scientific foundations of bitemark analysis, a forensic technique in which marks on the skin of a biting victim are compared with the teeth of a suspected biter. The review was first published in draft form last year. 

The finalized report, Bitemark Analysis: A NIST Scientific Foundation Review, includes minor updates based on public comments received. Details, including a link to the final version of the report, are now available on the NIST website. 

Upcoming Events

• OSAC’s Physics/Pattern Interpretation, Scene Examination, and Chemistry: Trace Evidence Scientific Area Committees (SACs)/Subcommittees Meeting will be held in Houston, TX, April 17-21, 2023.

• OSAC’s Digital/Multimedia, Medicine, Biology, and Chemistry: Drugs/Toxicology Scientific Area Committees (SACs)/Subcommittees Meeting will be held in Indianapolis, IN, May 15-19, 2023. 

• The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Annual Symposium will be held in Austin, TX, April 30 – May 4. 

Upcoming Webinars

• Overview for the Analysis of Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence
  April 13, 2023, 1:00 PM ET
  This is an overview on the chemical analysis of items and/or samples collected at a suspected clandestine drug lab. This overview will follow ASTM Guide E2882 – Analysis of Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence. This presentation will NOT cover how to respond to a suspected clandestine drug lab. Presenter: David Gouldthorpe, Las Vegas Police Department, Forensic Lab Manager - Chemistry Detail

• Training on ASTM E2329-17: Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs
  April 26, 2023, 1:00 PM ET 
  How do you know when you have performed sufficient qualitative testing to identify a controlled substance in a submitted evidence item? This is a question with no definite answer when approached from a theoretical angle and is further complicated practically when you consider the budgetary, jurisdictional, and administrative differences between laboratories that perform analysis of seized drugs. ASTM E2329-17, Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs is a document that outlines minimum analytical criteria that a lab should meet in order for an identification of a controlled substance to be made. This webinar will cover the sections of ASTM E2329, the practical applications in seized drug laboratories, and future changes to the document that are being considered. Presenter: Jason Bory, Assistant Director, US Customs & Border Protection, New York Laboratory 

AAFS Standards Resources and Training 

As part of a cooperative agreement with NIST, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is developing training, tools, and resources to enhance implementation efforts and broaden awareness of forensic science standards among communities of interest. 

• Standards factsheets provide a clear, concise, and easy way to understand the purpose of a specific standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. Standards factsheets are available for 60+ standards on the OSAC Registry. 
• Standards checklists are a tool that forensic science service providers can use to track progress towards implementation, identify gaps or barriers to implementation, or document objective evidence of implementation or compliance with a standard. Checklists are available for 70+ standards on the OSAC Registry. 
• Standards videos and webinars are available for free from AAFS Connect. Learn about the standards development process, standards development activities in various disciplines, and information about specific SDO published standards on the OSAC Registry. 

NIJ Solicitation: FY23 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking proposals for basic or applied research and development projects that will:

• Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice; or

• Lead to the production of useful material(s), device(s), system(s), or method(s) that have the potential for forensic application. 

Please note that the closing date for submissions is April 26, 2023. For more information, visit the NIJ website. 

On Page 5 of NIJ’s solicitation they note that applications/projects should address the challenges and needs of the forensic science community, including but not limited to priorities outlined in the NIJ Forensic Science Strategic Research Plan and operational needs identified at NIJ’s TWG meetings, which may be found on NIJ.OJP.gov. Additional research needs of the forensic science community can be found at the Organization of Scientific Area Committees website.