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 | Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents | Research & Development Needs | Presentations

Officers

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

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

Kathleen Boone, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Indiana State Police Laboratory Division

Members

Affiliate and Task Group Members

Road Map of Documents

Standards

Tier 1: On the OSAC Registry

• ASTM E1610-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison (effective 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 (effective July 7, 2020). 
• ASTM E2330 Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons (effective July 7, 2020).
• ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) Spectrometry (effective 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 (effective June 5, 2018).
• ASTM E2937-18 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations (effective June 26, 2018).
• ASTM E3085-17 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (effective September 11, 2018). 
• ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program (effective November 3, 2020).
• ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program (effective November 3, 2020).

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

• ASTM E1610-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison.
• 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.
• ASTM E2224-19 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy.
• ASTM E2225 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage.
• ASTM E2228-19 Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers.
• ASTM E2330 Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons.
• ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry.
• 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.
• ASTM E2937-18 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations.
• ASTM E3085-17 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations.
• ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program.
• ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program.

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

Tier 3: Sent to an SDO 

• Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry and Color Measurement in Forensic Paint Analysis.

• Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/X-Ray Spectrometry in Forensic Polymer Examinations.

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

• Standard Guide for Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Polymer Examinations.

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

• Standard Guide for the Microscopical Examination of Human Hair.

• Standard Guide for Forensic Examination and Comparison of Pressure Sensitive Tapes.

• Standard Guide for Forensic Glass Analysis and Comparison.

• Standard Guide for the Forensic Examination of Non-Reactive Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography. 

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

• Standard Practice for the Determination and Comparison of Color by Visual Observation in Forensic Soil Examination .
• Standard Guide for the Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Forensic Applications.

Tier 4: Under Development

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

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

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

• Standard Practice for a Forensic Fiber Training Program.

• Standard Practice for a Forensic Glass Analysis and Training Program.

• Standard Guide for Forensic Fiber Analysis and Comparison.

• Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Microspectrophotometry (MSP).

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

• Standard Practice for Physical Fit Training Program for Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials. 

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

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

Discipline-Specific Baseline Documents

The Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) has provided the opportunity for OSAC subcommittees to identify baseline documents and reference materials that best reflect the current state of the practice within their respective disciplines. 

These documents contain practical information regarding these disciplines that can help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, other interested parties and the general public, to better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as they are currently practiced.

It is important to note that the identification of these documents in this venue does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST. Only documents that are posted on the OSAC Registry constitute OSAC endorsement. All copyrights for these documents are reserved by their owners. Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee represent the consensus opinion of the subcommittee, not necessarily the position of the entire OSAC organization or NIST.

Materials (Trace):

• 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
• SWGMAT Trace Evidence Recovery Guidelines

Fibers:

• ASTM E2228-10 Standard Guide for Microscopic Examination of Textile Fibers
• ASTM E2225-10 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fabrics and Cordage
• ASTM E2224-10 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis by Infrared Spectroscopy
• ASTM E2227-13 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Non-reactive dyes in textile fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography
• SWGMAT Fiber Examiner Training Program

Glass: 

• Forensic Glass Comparison:  Background Information Used in Data Interpretation
• SWGMAT Glass Fractures
• ASTM E1967-11a Standard Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive Index of Glass Samples Using the Oil Immersion Method and a Phase Contrast Microscope
• ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (u-XRF) Spectrometry
• ASTM E2927-16 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons
• ASTM E2330-12 Standard Test Method for Determination of concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons

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 E1610-14 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison
• ASTM E2808-11 Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry and Color Measurement in Forensic Paint Analysis
• ASTM E2809-13 Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/X-Ray Spectrometry in Forensic Paint Examinations
• ASTM E2937-13 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy 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)
• ASTM E3085 Standard Guide for Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations

Research & Development Needs

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

Presentations

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