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The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science

OSAC Registry

The OSAC Registry is a repository of selected published and proposed standards for forensic science. These documents contain minimum requirements, best practices, standard protocols, terminology, or other information to promote valid, reliable, and reproducible forensic results.

The standards on this Registry have undergone a technical and quality review process that actively encourages feedback from forensic science practitioners, research scientists, human factors experts, statisticians, legal experts, and the public. Placement on the Registry requires a consensus (as evidenced by 2/3 vote or more) of both the OSAC subcommittee that proposed the inclusion of the standard and the Forensic Science Standards Board.

OSAC encourages the forensic science community to implement the published and proposed standards on the Registry to help advance the practice of forensic science.

The OSAC Registry includes two types of standards:

  • SDO-published standards have completed the consensus process of an external standards developing organization (SDO) and have been approved by OSAC for placement on the Registry.
  • OSAC Proposed Standards have been drafted by OSAC and given to an SDO for further development and publication. They have undergone the same OSAC technical and quality review process as the SDO-published standards on the Registry. Each OSAC Proposed Standard may be revised during the SDO development process; once available, an SDO-published standard will replace the OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry after completing the technical and quality review at OSAC. To help fill the standards gap while an SDO completes its process, OSAC encourages the forensic science community to implement the OSAC Proposed Standards.

Visit the library for a complete list of Registry Archived and forensic science standards.

Forensic Science Standards Library
Learn how to implement the standards on the OSAC Registry and share your implementation progress.
OSAC Registry Implementation

OSAC Registry

233
OSAC Registry
157
SDO-Published
76
OSAC Proposed
Searches the number, title, subcommittee and owner for all keywords
Displaying 1 - 50 of 233
Export results (CSV)
More info Designation Number Title OSAC Subcommittee(s) Document Owner Status Date added to the Registry
ANSI/ASTM E1386-23 ANSI/ASTM E1386-23 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Solvent Extraction Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2025-N-0002 OSAC 2025-N-0002 Standard for Qualifications for Forensic Anthropology Practitioners Forensic Anthropology The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-N-0014 OSAC 2023-N-0014 Standard for the Medical Forensic Examination in the Clinical Setting Forensic Nursing The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
SWGDE: 23-F-004-1.1 SWGDE: 23-F-004-1.1 Best Practices for Digital Evidence Acquisition, Preservation, and Analysis from Cloud Service Providers Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
SWGDE: 12-F-004-3.2 SWGDE: 12-F-004-3.2 Best Practices for Vehicle Infotainment and Telematics Systems Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2025-N-0017 OSAC 2025-N-0017 Standard Terminology Relating to Trace Materials Analysis Trace Materials The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
SWGDE: 23-F-003-1.0 SWGDE: 23-F-003-1.0 Best Practices for Internet of Things Seizure and Analysis Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 035-20 ANSI/ASB Standard 035 Standard for the Examination of Documents for Alterations, 2020, 1st Ed. Forensic Document Examination Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
SWGDE: 17-F-002-2.0 SWGDE: 17-F-002-2.0 Best Practices for Computer Forensic Acquisitions Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2024-S-0012 OSAC 2024-S-0012 Standard Practice for the Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry Trace Materials The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2024-S-0002 OSAC 2024-S-0002 Standard Test Method for the Examination and Comparison of Toolmarks for Source Attribution Firearms & Toolmarks The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-S-0028 OSAC 2023-S-0028 Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of Conflicts in Toolmark Value Determinations and Source Conclusions Firearms & Toolmarks The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-N-0012 OSAC 2023-N-0012 Best Practice Recommendations for the Acceptance of a Request for Friction Ridge Examinations Friction Ridge The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2022-S-0037 OSAC 2022-S-0037 Standards for DNA-based Taxonomic Identification in Forensic Entomology Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2022-S-0032 OSAC 2022-S-0032 Best Practice Recommendation for the Chemical Processing of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence Footwear & Tire The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
SWGDE: 17-F-001-2.0 SWGDE: 17-F-001-2.0 Recommendations for Cell Site Analysis Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 180-24 ANSI/ASB Standard 180 Standard for the Selection and Evaluation of GenBank® Results for Taxonomic Assignment of Wildlife, 2024, 1st Ed. Wildlife Forensic Biology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 175-24 ANSI/ASB Standard 175 Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events, 2024, 1st Ed. Human Forensic Biology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 055-24 ANSI/ASB Standard 055 Standard for Breath Alcohol Measuring Instrument Calibration, 2024, 1st Ed. Forensic Toxicology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2024-N-0010 OSAC 2024-N-0010 Requirements and Recommendations for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories Firearms & Toolmarks The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2024-N-0005 OSAC 2024-N-0005 Standard Training Guideline for Iris Image Examiners Facial and Iris Identification The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-S-0018 OSAC 2023-S-0018 Standard Test Method for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Other Markings Firearms & Toolmarks The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-N-0023 OSAC 2023-N-0023 Standard Guide to the Forensic Speaker Recognition Landscape Speaker Recognition The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-N-0020 OSAC 2023-N-0020 Standard for the On-Scene Collection and Preservation of Friction Ridge Impressions Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2024-N-0004 OSAC 2024-N-0004 Standard Guide for Capturing Iris Images for Use with Iris Recognition Systems Facial and Iris Identification The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
OSAC 2023-S-0017 OSAC 2023-S-0017 Standard for the Articulation of Footwear and Tire Interpretations Footwear & Tire The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 171-24 ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 171 Best Practice Recommendation for the Management of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis, 2024, 1st Ed. Human Forensic Biology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 122-24 ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 122 Best Practice Recommendation for Performing Alcohol Calculations in Forensic Toxicology, 2024, 1st Ed. Forensic Toxicology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 154-24 ANSI/ASB Standard 154 Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology, 2024, 1st Ed. Human Forensic Biology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E3391-24 ANSI/ASTM E3391-24 Standard Terminology Relating to Gunshot Residue Analysis Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E2917-24a ANSI/ASTM E2917-24a Standard Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional Development Programs Interdisciplinary, Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2023-S-0026 OSAC 2023-S-0026 Task-Relevant Information in Friction Ridge Examination Friction Ridge The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
SWGDE: 23-F-005-1.0 SWGDE: 23-F-005-1.0 Best Practices Apple MacOS Forensic Acquisition Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
SWGDE: 21-F-001-1.1 SWGDE: 21-F-001-1.1 Best Practices for Acquiring Online Content Digital Evidence Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E3284-23 ANSI/ASTM E3284-23 Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS) Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E3197-23 ANSI/ASTM E3197-23 Standard Terminology Relating to Examination of Fire Debris Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E2927-23 ANSI/ASTM E2927-23 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons Trace Materials ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E1388-24 ANSI/ASTM E1388-24 Standard Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors from Fire Debris Samples Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 146-21 ANSI/ASB Standard 146-21 Standard for Resolving Commingled Remains in Forensic Anthropology, 2021, 1st Ed. Forensic Anthropology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 134-21 ANSI/ASB Standard 134 Standard for Analyzing Pathological Conditions and Anomalies in Forensic Anthropology, 2021, 1st Ed. Forensic Anthropology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 135-23 ANSI/ASB Standard 135 Scene Detection and Processing in Forensic Anthropology, 2023, 1st Ed. Forensic Anthropology Academy Standards Board OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
OSAC 2024-N-0008 OSAC 2024-N-0008 Mass Fatality Incident Data Management: Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority Medicolegal Death Investigation The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Registry, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
OSAC 2023-N-0005 OSAC 2023-N-0005 Standard Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner Trace Materials The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Registry, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
OSAC 2023-N-0003 OSAC 2023-N-0003 Standard for Diagramming Scenes Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Registry, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
OSAC 2022-S-0034 OSAC 2022-S-0034 Standard for the Expression of Source Opinions in Forensic Document Examination Forensic Document Examination The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science In SDO Development, OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry
ANSI/ASTM E3294-23 ANSI/ASTM E3294-23 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction Trace Materials ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E3272-23 ANSI/ASTM E3272-23 Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications Trace Materials ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASTM E3175-23 ANSI/ASTM E3175-23 Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy Trace Materials ASTM International OSAC Registry, SDO Published Standard
ANSI/ASB Standard 162-24 ANSI/ASB Standard 162 Standard Method for the Forensic Examination and Documentation of Non-Firearm Tools and Toolmarks, 2024, 1st Ed. Firearms & Toolmarks Academy Standards Board SDO Published Standard, OSAC Registry
ANSI/ASB Standard 145-23 ANSI/ASB Standard 145 Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination, 2023, 1st Ed. Friction Ridge Academy Standards Board SDO Published Standard, OSAC Registry