OSAC's Forensic Science Standards Library is an interactive database of the current forensic science standards landscape. The term "standard" applies collectively to a document and can be a best practice recommendation, classification, code, guide, method/test method, practice, specification, or vocabulary/terminology. The elements required in a "standard" will differ by the type of document and by the standards developing organization (SDO).
Visit the OSAC Registry to see the SDO published and OSAC Proposed Standards that have been approved by OSAC and are endorsed for implementation.
Search for the following types of standards in the OSAC Forensic Science Standards Library:
| More info | Designation Number | Title | OSAC Subcommittee(s) | Document Owner | Status | Date added to the Registry Sort ascending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASB Standard 197-2x | ASB Standard 197-2x Standard for the Examination of Digitally Captured Signatures | Forensic Document Examination | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 197-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
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| ASB Standard 191-2x | ASB Standard 191-2x Standard for the Examination of Dry Seals and Dry Seal Impressions | Forensic Document Examination | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 191-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 188-2x | ASB Standard 188-2x Standard for Processing Evidence for the Detection of Friction Ridge Impressions | Friction Ridge | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
ASB Standard 188-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 185-2x | ASB Standard 185-2x Standard for Proficiency Testing in Friction Ridge Examination | Friction Ridge | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 185-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 186-2x | ASB Standard 186-2x Standard for Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 186-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 199-2x | ASB Standard 199-2x Standard for Familial DNA Searching | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 199-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 200-2x | ASB Standard 200-2x Canine Biomedical Detection of Disease in Forensic Public Health | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 200-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 173-2x | ASB Standard 173-2x Standard for Education, Training, Continuing Education, and Certification of Forensic Toxicology Laboratory Personnel | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 173-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 090-2x | ASB Standard 090-2x Standard for Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Anthropology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 090-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 118-2x | ASB Standard 118-2x Standard for Breath Alcohol Instrument Specifications | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 118-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 101-2x | ASB Standard 101-2x Supporting Documentation of Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations | Firearms & Toolmarks | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 101-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 100-2x | ASB Standard 100-2x Standard Scale and Criteria for Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations | Firearms & Toolmarks | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
ASB Standard 100-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 178-2x | ASB Standard 178-2x Canine Detection of Electronic Storage Media | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 178-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 082-2x | ASB Standard 082-2x Canine Detection of Human Scented Articles | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 082-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 179-2x | ASB Standard 179-2x Canine Detection of Accelerants | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 179-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 086-2x | ASB Standard 086-2x Canine Detection of Narcotics | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 086-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 039-2x | ASB Standard 039-2x Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 039-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 041-2x | ASB Standard 041-2x Formulating Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
ASB Standard 041-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 045-2x | ASB Standard 045-2x Standard for Stature Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Anthropology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 045-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 036-2x | ASB Standard 036-2x Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 036-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 040-2x | ASB Standard 040-2x Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2nd Ed. | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
ASB Standard 040-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 044-2x | ASB Standard 044-2x Standard for Examination of Documents for Indentations, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Document Examination | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 044-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 043-2x | ASB Standard 043-2x Standard for Disaster Human Remains Detection Dogs Program - Training, Certification, and Documentation | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 043-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 042-2x | ASB Standard 042-2x Standard for Disaster Live Human Detection Dogs Program - Training, Certification, and Documentation | Dogs & Sensors | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 042-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 037-2x | ASB Standard 037-2x Standard for Reports and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 037-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 182-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 182-2x Victim Accounting: Best Practice Recommendations for Medicolegal Authorities in Mass Fatality Management | Medicolegal Death Investigation | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 182-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 129-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 129-2x Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms | Human Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 129-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 190-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 190-2x Best Practice Recommendation for the Use of Digital Image Capture and File Storage Technology in Forensic Document Examination | Forensic Document Examination | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 190-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 161-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 161-2x Best Practice Recommendation for Creating Known Distance Witness Panels and Estimating the Associated Measurement Uncertainty | Firearms & Toolmarks | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 161-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 176-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 176-2x Best Practice Recommendations for Fatality Management During a Pandemic | Medicolegal Death Investigation | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 176-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 174-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 174-2x Age Estimation in Forensic Anthropology | Forensic Anthropology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 174-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 103-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 103-2x Guidelines for Reporting of Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations | Firearms & Toolmarks | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 103-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126-2x | ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126-2x Best Practice Recommendation for Casting Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence at the Crime Scene, 2nd Ed. | Footwear & Tire | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E2330-2x | ASTM E2330-2x Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons | Trace Materials | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E2330-2x
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E2917-2x | ASTM E2917-2x Standard Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional Development Programs | Interdisciplinary | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E2917-2x
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E3255-2x | ASTM E3255-2x Standard Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemical Analysis | Interdisciplinary | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E3255-2x
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E860-2x (WK89150) | ASTM E860-2x Standard Practice for Examining and Preparing Items That Are or May Become Involved in Criminal or Civil Litigation | Interdisciplinary | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E860-2x (WK89150)
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM WK72526 | ASTM WK72526 Standard Practice for Expert Opinions on the Interpretation of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry | Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM WK72526
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ANSI/ASTM E3189-19 (2025) | ANSI/ASTM E3189-19 (2025) Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Static Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube | Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue | ASTM International | SDO Published Standard | ||
|
Standard Number
ANSI/ASTM E3189-19 (2025)
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
SDO Published Standard
SDO Comment Instructions
ASTM has given the public free access to the E30 published standards, including those on the OSAC Registry. An account is required to access the standards. Viewers who do not have a free ASTM account can create an ASTM account or log in to an existing account here: https://www.nist.gov/osac/astm-launch-code SDO Published Standard Url
|
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| OSAC 2026-N-1046 | OSAC 2026-N-1046 Standard for the Collection of Known Handwriting in Forensic Document Examination | Forensic Document Examination | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, Under Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
OSAC 2026-N-1046
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
Under Development
|
||||||
| OSAC 2023-N-0010 | OSAC 2023-N-0010 Standard Practice for the Collection of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Particles from Clothing Vehicles and Other Inanimate Objects using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Stubs | Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry Archived | ||
|
Standard Number
OSAC 2023-N-0010
Date added to the archive
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
OSAC Registry Archived
Archival Reason
First added to the OSAC Registry: 11/7/2023. Replaced on the Registry by ANSI/ASTM E3497-26 Standard Practice for the Collection of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Particles from Clothing, Vehicles, and Other Inanimate Objects using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Stubs. Public Comment Document Files
OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry
|
||||||
| OSAC 2022-S-0019 | OSAC 2022-S-0019 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers | Trace Materials | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, OSAC Registry Archived | ||
|
Standard Number
OSAC 2022-S-0019
Date added to the archive
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
OSAC Registry Archived
Archival Reason
First added to the OSAC Registry: 4/4/2023. Replaced on the Registry by ANSI/ASTM E3404-25, Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers. Public Comment Document Files
OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry
|
||||||
| ASB Technical Report 208-2x | ASB Technical Report 208-2x Forensic Toxicology: Terms and Definitions, 2nd Ed. | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Technical Report 208-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 053-2x | ASB Standard 053-2x Standard for Report Content in Forensic Toxicology | Forensic Toxicology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 053-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASB Standard 019-2x | ASB Standard 019-2x Standard for the Practice of Wildlife Forensic Laboratories, 2nd Ed. | Wildlife Forensic Biology | Academy Standards Board | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASB Standard 019-2x
Document Owner
Academy Standards Board
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E3309-2x | ASTM E3309-2x Standard Guide for Reporting of Forensic Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS) | Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E3309-2x
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| ASTM E1618-2x | ANSI/ASTM E1618-2x Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry | Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue | ASTM International | In SDO Development | ||
|
Standard Number
ASTM E1618-2x
Document Owner
ASTM International
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
In SDO Development
|
||||||
| OSAC 2026-N-1050 | OSAC 2026-N-1050 Standard Practice for Facial Comparison Training of Reviewers to Competency | Facial & Iris Identification | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, Under Development | ||
|
Standard Number
OSAC 2026-N-1050
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
Under Development
|
||||||
| OSAC 2026-S-1014 | OSAC 2026-S-1014 Standard for Sexual Assault Kit Laboratory Documentation | Forensic Nursing | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, Under Development | ||
|
Standard Number
OSAC 2026-S-1014
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
Under Development
|
||||||
| OSAC 2026-S-1051 | OSAC 2026-S-1051 Best Practice Recommendation for Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) | Friction Ridge | The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science | OSAC Proposed Draft Standard, Under Development | ||
|
Title
Standard Number
OSAC 2026-S-1051
Document Owner
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science
OSAC Committee(s)
Status
OSAC Proposed Draft Standard
Under Development
|
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