Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee

The Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to training, method development and validation, data analysis, interpretation, statistical analysis, reporting and testimony for human forensic serological and DNA testing.

Officers | Members | Standards | Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents | Research & Development Needs | Presentations

Officers

Beth Ordeman, Subcommittee Chair, Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory

Brian Higgins, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Defense Forensic Science Center (including USACIL)

Kristin Schelling, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Michigan State Police

Members

Standards

Tier 1: On the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, First Edition, 2019 (effective September 1, 2020).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standards for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First Edition, 2018 (effective May 12, 2020).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019 (effective May 12, 2020).

  • See the intent/clarification note from OSAC's Biology SAC on Section 4.3. 

Tier 2: Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO)

• ANSI/ASB Standard 018, Standard for Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems, First Edition, 2020.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standards for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First Edition, 2018.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, First Edition, 2019. 
• ANSI/ASB 023, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods, First Edition, 2020. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 038, Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Testing Methods, First Edition, 2020. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 077, Standard for the Development and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods, First Edition, 2020.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 110, Standard for Training in Forensic Serological Methods, First Edition, 2020. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 115, Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, DNA Separation, and Allele Detection, First Edition, 2020. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 116, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods, First Edition, 2020. 

Tier 3: Sent to an SDO

• Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms.  
• Assigning Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations.
• Best Practice Recommendation for Validation of Forensic DNA Software.
• Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms.   
• Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Amplification Methods for Capillary Electrophoresis Sequencing.  
• Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Sequencing using Capillary Electrophoresis.  
• Forensic Laboratory Standards for Prevention, Monitoring, and Mitigation of DNA Contamination.   

• Standard for Training of Forensic Autosomal and Y-STR Data Interpretation.

• Standard for Training on the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).

• Standard for Training to Perform Forensic DNA Reporting and Review.

• Standard for Training in the Use of Statistics in Interpretation of Forensic DNA Evidence.

• Standard for Training of Analysis of Forensic STR Data.

• Standard for Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory's DNA Mixture Interpretation Protocol.

• Standard for Reporting DNA Conclusions.

• Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, Interpretation, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting.

• Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology.

Tier 4: Under Development

• Best Practice Recommendations for Management and Use of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Laboratories.
• Standard for Interpreting and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events.
• Standard for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic Casework Using Electrophoretic Systems.
• Best Practice Recommendations for Forensic DNA Testimony.
• Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses - General Protocol. 
• Standards for Validation and Implementation of Familial Searching for Forensic Purposes. 
• Standard for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods.
• Standard for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification.
• Standard for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms.
• Best Practice Workflows for Efficient Sampling and Direct to DNA of Sexual Assault Kits.
• Standard for Training in Forensic Sequencing Methods (Massively Parallel Sequencing/Next Generation Sequencing).
• Standard for the Analytical Procedures and Report Writing of Forensic Serological Methods.

Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents

• None currently.

Research & Development Needs

• See the research & development needs identified by the Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee.

Presentations

• None currently.

In general, the development of standards and guidelines is transitioning from the Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) to the OSAC. Some SWGs will continue to operate to provide other resources within their discipline. The existing SWG documents will remain in effect until updated documents are disseminated by the OSAC or the SWG. SWGDAM will retain the responsibility for updating the FBI DNA Quality Assurance Standards.

– Forensic Science Standards Board: March 2015