Trace Materials Subcommittee

The Trace Materials Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to examination and interpretation of physical evidence that may result from the transfer of small or minute quantities of materials (e.g., hairs, fibers, paint, tape, glass, geological materials).

Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products

Officers

Diana Wright, Ph.D., Subcommittee Chair, Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory

Celeste Grover, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division

Jenny Lounsbury, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Texas Department of Public Safety

Members

Standards

Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) and on the OSAC Registry

• ASTM E1610-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison (added to the Registry June 26, 2018).
• ASTM E1967-19 Standard Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive Index of Glass Samples Using the Oil Immersion Method and a Phase Contrast Microscope (added to the Registry July 7, 2020).
• ASTM E2330-19 Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons (added to the Registry July 7, 2020).
• ASTM E2808-21a Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Paint Analysis (added to the Registry February 1, 2022).
• ASTM 2809-22 Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) in Forensic Polymer Examinations (added to the Registry October 4, 2022).
• ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) Spectrometry (added to the Registry July 31, 2017).
• ASTM E2927-16e1 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons (added to the Registry June 5, 2018).
• ASTM E2937-18 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations (added to the Registry June 26, 2018).
• ASTM E3085-17 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (added to the Registry September 11, 2018).
• ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program (added to the Registry November 3, 2020).
• ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program (added to the Registry November 3, 2020).
• ASTM E3260-21 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination and Comparison of Pressure Sensitive Tapes (added to the Registry Ooctober 5, 2021).
• ASTM E3272-21 Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications (added to the Registry September 7, 2021).
  • The former Geological Materials Subcommittee, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky, the FBI, and the IUGS-Initiative of Forensic Geology have developed a Forensic Soil Evidence Collection Training Video to accompany the Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications. Learn more about this project by reading our news story.  
• ASTM E3296-22, Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Polymer Examinations (added to the Registry October 4, 2022).

visit the access to standards webpage to access the astm standards listed above.

Published by an SDO and Eligible for the OSAC Registry

• ASTM E3294-22 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction.

Sent to an SDO 

• 

  OSAC 2022-S-0015, Standard Guide for Physical Fit Examination.

  • OSAC PROPOSED STANDARD ON THE REGISTRY (ADDED november 1, 2022 AND will be SENT TO ASTM FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATION).

• REVISION to ASTM E2224 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy.

• REVISION to ASTM E2225 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage.

• REVISION to ASTM E2227 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Non-Reactive Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography.

• REVISION to ASTM E2228 Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers. 

• REVISION to ASTM E2926 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) Spectrometry.

• REVISION to ASTM E2927 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons.

• Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy.

• Standard Guide for the Microscopical Examination of Human Hair.

• Standard Guide for the Collection, Analysis, and Comparison of Forensic Glass Samples.

• Standard Practice for the Determination and Comparison of Color by Visual Observation in Forensic Soil Examination.

• Standard Guide for Powdered X-Ray Diffraction of Soils and Geological Materials for Forensic Applications.

• Standard Guide for Using X-Ray Fluorescence (XFR) in Forensic Polymer Examinations.

Under Development

• OSAC 2022-S-0017, Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis.

• OSAC 2022-S-0018, Standard Practice for a Forensic Fiber Training Program.

• OSAC 2022-S-0019, Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers. 

• OSAC 2022-S-0029, Standard Guide for Interpretation and Reporting in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials.

• OSAC 2023-N-0005, Standard Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner. 

• Standard Guide for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)/ Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) Analysis of Soils and Geological Materials for Forensic Applications.

• Standard Guide for the Analysis of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications.

• Standard Guide for Polarized Light Microscopy of Soils and Geological Materials for Forensic Applications. 

• Standard Guide for Assessing Physical Characteristics in Forensic Tape Examinations.

• Standard Guide for Using Raman Spectroscopy in Forensic Polymer Examinations.

• Standard Guide for Using Light Microscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations.

• Standard Practice for Interpretation and Report Writing in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials.

• Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations.

• Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations.

Other Work Products

NEW:

• Trace Evidence Collection App. The Outreach Task Group of the Trace Materials Subcommittee, in collaboration wiht NIST and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) have developed an app to assist crime scene teams and law enforcement officers with the recognition, collection, and preservation of trace evidence. Visit OSAC's Trace Evidence Collection App webpage and view this video to learn more. 

Interlaboratory Comparisons

• In the summer of 2020, the Trace Materials SC conducted an interlaboratory data collection exercise to evaluate the draft of its Standard Practice for Interpretation and Report Writing in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials, with the first round of the study focusing on forensic paint analysis. The document is currently under revision (OSAC 2022-S-0029) and the draft used for the interlaboratory study is here. 

Reference Documents

• Development of the Term "Exclusionary Difference" and a More Uniform Use of Spectral Comparison Language
• Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide
• OSAC Materials Subcommittee's Response to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology's (PCAST) Request for Additional References

Research & Development Needs

• See the research and development needs identified by the Trace Materials Subcommittee.

Standards Development Maps

• Trace Materials Roadmap

Webinars, Presentations & Training Videos

• OSAC Trace Materials Subcommittee Update at the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) EPG Meeting (September 2018).

Discipline-Specific Bibliographies and Bibliographic References 

These documents may contain information to help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, and other readers better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as currently practiced. The identification of these documents does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST. Only standards that are posted on the OSAC Registry and Technical Guidance documents, are endorsed by OSAC. The referenced documents may be subject to copyright. Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.

Materials (Trace):

• SWGMAT Trace Evidence Recovery Guidelines

Fibers:

• ASTM E2227-13 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Non-reactive dyes in textile fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography
• SWGMAT Fiber Examiner Training Program

Geological Materials:

• Best Practice Manual for the Comparison of Soil Traces 
• A Guide to Forensic Geology

Glass: 

• Forensic Glass Comparison:  Background Information Used in Data Interpretation
• SWGMAT Glass Fractures

Hair:

• Forensic Hair Comparison Background Information for Interpretation
• Response to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) publication of the “National Best Practices for Sexual Assault Kits: A Multidisciplinary Approach” from the OSAC Materials (Trace) Subcommittee Hair Task Group
• SWGMAT Forensic Human Hair Examination Guidelines  
• SWGMAT Forensic Human Hair Examination Training Program

Paint:

• ASTM E2809-13 Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/X-Ray Spectrometry in Forensic Paint Examinations
• SWGMAT Forensic  Paint Examination Training Program
• SWGMAT Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Paint Examinations (Available:  JASTEE, Vol.5, Issue 1 pp 22-33)

Tape:

• SWGMAT Standard Guideline for Forensic Examination of Pressure Sensitive Tape (Available: JASTEE, Vol. 2, Issue 1 pp 88-97)
• SWGMAT Guideline for Assessing Physical Characteristics in Forensic Tape Examinations (Available: JASTEE, Vol. 5, Issue 1 pp 34-41)
• SWGMAT Guideline for Using Light Microscopy in Forensic Examinations of Tape Components (Available: JASTEE, Vol.2, Issue 1 pp 106-111)
• SWGMAT Guideline for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (Available: JASTEE, Vol. 2, Issue 1 pp 122-132)
• SWGMAT Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Tape Examinations (Available: JASTEE, Vol.5, Issue 1 pp 42- 51)