Validation in Forensic Science: Guiding Principles for the Collection and Use of Validation Data

Published

December 12, 2025

Author(s)

Henry Swofford, Steven Lund, Barbara Guttman, Erica Romsos, Johannes Soons, Melissa Taylor, Hariharan Iyer, Peter Vallone, John Jones, Vincent Desiderio, John Butler, Sandra Koch, Robert Thompson, Gregory Fiumara, Edward Sisco, Kelly Sauerwein, Allison Getz, Robert Ramotowski

Abstract

This document provides guidance to the forensic science community on method validation. Building on the definition of validation in ISO/IEC 17025, it explores the specific components of validation within a forensic science context and introduces five principles for guiding the collection and use of validation data. These guiding principles are intended to improve how validation studies are conducted and promote collaborative, community-based approaches to validation testing, data sharing, and performance characterizations, leading to more robust validation practices among forensic science laboratories. Additionally, this document serves as a framework for other resources and materials to build upon, including the development of forensic science-specific documentary standards and guidelines; standardized templates for validation plans, reports, and data; and software tools and repositories for analyzing, interpreting, and sharing validation data.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 8589

Report Number

8589

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8589

Local Download

Keywords

Forensic Science, Performance, Guiding Principles, Quality Assurance, Reliability, Validation, Verification.

Citation

Swofford, H. , Lund, S. , Guttman, B. , Romsos, E. , Soons, J. , Taylor, M. , Iyer, H. , Vallone, P. , Jones, J. , Desiderio, V. , Butler, J. , Koch, S. , Thompson, R. , Fiumara, G. , Sisco, E. , Sauerwein, K. , Getz, A. and Ramotowski, R. (2025), Validation in Forensic Science: Guiding Principles for the Collection and Use of Validation Data, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8589, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=960702 (Accessed December 13, 2025)