Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Trace Materials Subcommittee

OSAC Trace Materials SC icon

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

Sandra Koch, Subcommittee Chair, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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

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

 

Members

Lindsey Admire, North Carolina State Crime Laboratory

Jason Beckert, Microtrace LLC

Catherine Brown, Collaborative Testing Services (CTS)

Kent Cattani, Arizona Court of Appeals (Legal Task Group affiliate)

Ruthmara Corzo, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Devin Crago, Texas Department of Public Safety

Amy Duhaime, Rhode Island Crime Laboratory

Josh Friedman, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Kris Gates, Oregon State Police (retired)

Gwyneth Gordon, Arizona State University

Susan Gross, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Jack Hietpas, Microtrace

Patrick Jones, Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory

Karen Lowe, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Daniel Mabel, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL)

Ted Manasian, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation 

Michelle Mercer, Monroe County Crime Laboratory

Shirly Montero, Arizona State University (Human Factors Task Group representative)

David Northrop, Washington State Patrol

Troy Nowak, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory (USACIL)

 

Edward "Chip" Pollock, Sacramento County District Attorney's Office - Laboratory of Forensic Services

Meghan Prusinowski, ORISE (FBI)

Jennifer Remy, North Carolina State Crime Laboratory (Quality Task Group representative)

Alex Rugh, Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Ian Saginor, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Libby Stern, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Tatiana Trejos, West Virginia University (OSAC's Ignitable Liquids, Explosives, & Gunshot Residue Subcommittee affiliate) 

Jodi Webb, Federal Bureau of Investigation

 

Trace Materials Affiliate List

Standards

On the OSAC Registry

  • ANSI/ASTM E1610-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison (added September 5, 2023)
  • ANSI/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 July 7, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2224-23a Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy (added April 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2225-23 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage (added October 3, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2227-23e1 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography (added October 3, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2228-23a Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers (added October 3, 2023)
  • ANSI/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 July 7, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2808-21a Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Paint Analysis (added February 1, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2809-22 Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) in Forensic Polymer Examinations (added October 4, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (added September 5, 2023)
  • 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 (added September 3, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E2937-18 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations (added September 5, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3085-17 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (added September 5, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3175-23 Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy (added July 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program (added November 3, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program (added November 3, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3254-23 Standard Practice for Use of Color in the Visual Examination and Forensic Comparison of Soil Samples (added October 3, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3260-21 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination and Comparison of Pressure Sensitive Tapes (added October 5, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3272-23 Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications (added July 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3294-23 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction (added July 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3295-23 Standard Guide for Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) in Forensic Polymer Examinations (added April 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3296-22 Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Polymer Examinations (added October 4, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3316-22 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy (added April 4, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASTM E3392-24 Standard Guide for Forensic Physical Fit Examination (added May 7, 2024)
  • OSAC 2022-N-0018 Standard Practice for a Forensic Fiber Training Program (added January 5, 2023)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0017 Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis (added April 4, 2023)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0019 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers (added April 4, 2023)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0005 Standard Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner (added July 2, 2024)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0011 Standard Practice for a Physical Fit Analysis Training Program (added November 7, 2023)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0027 Standard Guide for Forensic Trace Evidence Recovery (added January 3, 2024)

At an SDO for Further Development & Publication

  • ASTM E1610-2x Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison
  • ASTM E1967-2x Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive Index of Glass Samples Using the Oil Immersion Method and a Phase Contrast Microscope
  • ASTM E2224-23ae1 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy
  • ASTM E2225-2x Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage
  • 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
  • ASTM E2926-2x Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
  • ASTM E2937-2x Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations
  • ASTM E3085-2x Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations
  • ASTM WK72932 Guide for Collection, Analysis and Comparison of Forensic Glass Samples
  • ASTM WK78747 Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers
  • ASTM WK78748 Practice for Forensic Fiber Training Program
  • ASTM WK78749 Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis
  • ASTM WK86273 Guide for Interpretation and Reporting in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials
  • ASTM WK88490 Practice for Physical Fit Analysis Training Program
  • ASTM WK89493 Guide for Forensic Trace Evidence Recovery
  • ASTM WK92115 Terminology Relating to Trace Evidence Analysis
  • ASTM WK92338 Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner
  • OSAC 2022-N-0018 Standard Practice for a Forensic Fiber Training Program (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0017 Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0019 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0005 Standard Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0011 Standard Practice for a Physical Fit Analysis Training Program (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2023-N-0027 Standard Guide for Forensic Trace Evidence Recovery (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)

Under Development

  • OSAC 2024-S-0012 Standard Practice for the Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry
  • OSAC 2024-S-0015 Standard Guide for Evaluating Physical and Optical Characteristics in Forensic Tape Examination and Comparison

Other Work Products

  • Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide. The Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide was developed by OSAC's Trace Materials Subcommittee. The guide assists crime scene teams and law enforcement officers by providing guidance on recognizing, collecting, packaging, and preserving suspected trace evidence. The guide provides detailed and illustrated chapters that each focus on a specific type of evidence.
  • Trace Evidence Collection Mobile App. The Trace Evidence Collection App is a mobile app companion to the Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide. The mobile app enables the user to access, search, and reference the guide's contents at any time and in any location. With this information easily accessible, users can reference descriptions of different types of trace evidence, information about where trace evidence might be encountered in crime scenes, and instructions outlining the collection and packaging of trace evidence.  
    • These videos, demonstrating various evidence collection techniques, were produced by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) through the support of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Financial Assistance Award Number 70NANB21H098. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this video are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the NIST or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any products and manufacturers discussed are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by NIST or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
  • Forensic Soil Evidence Collection Training Video. 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 ASTM E3272-21, Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications (on the OSAC Registry)Learn more about this project by reading our news story.  

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

Research & Development Needs

Standards Development Maps

Webinars, Presentations & Training Videos

  • Interpretation and Report Writing in Forensic Comparisons of Paint Evidence: Results for an Interlaboratory Exercise (September 29, 2023).
  • 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):

Fibers:

Geological Materials:

Glass: 

Hair:

Paint:

Tape: