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The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science

Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee

Human Forensic Biology SC icon2

The Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to training, method development and validation, data analysis, interpretation, statistical analysis, reporting and testimony for human forensic serological and DNA testing.

Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products

 

Officers

Jarrah Kennedy, Subcommittee Chair, Texas Forensic Science Commission

Charlotte Word, Subcommittee Co-Vice Chair, Consultant

Erika Ziemak, Subcommittee Co-Vice Chair, University of North Texas Health Science Center

Erin Gorden, Subcommittee Co-Executive Secretary, Signature Science

Michelle Madrid, Subcommittee Co-Executive Secretary, Promega

Members

Michelle Ackermann, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)

Michael Brandhagen, Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory

James DiFrancesco, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory

Mario Galioto, Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

Mirna Ghemrawi, Florida International University

Susan Greenspoon, Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Catherine Grgicak, Rutgers University

Rebecca Just, National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC), National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)

Rebekah Kay, Utah Bureau of Forensic Science

Susannah Knetchel, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Crime Laboratory

Susannah Knetchel, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Crime Laboratory

Eugene Lien, New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner

Michael Marciano, Syracuse University

Britton Morin, Union County Prosecutor's Office Forensic Laboratory

Michelle Peck, Signature Science

Diana Williams, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory

Standards

On the OSAC Registry

  • ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 114-22 Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Software used in Forensic DNA Laboratories, 2022, 1st Ed. (added November 7, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 171-24 Best Practice Recommendation for the Management of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis, 2024, 1st Ed. (added October 1, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 018-20 Standard for Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems, 2020, 1st Ed. (added May 4, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 020-18 Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, 2018, 1st Ed. (added May 12, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 022-19 Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, 2019, 1st Ed. (added September 1, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 023-20 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods, 2020, 1st Ed. (added August 3, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 038-20 Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods, 2020, 1st Ed. (added May 2, 2023)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 040-19 Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2019, 1st Ed. (added May 12, 2020)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 077-20 Standard for the Developmental and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods, 2020, 1st Ed. (added December 6, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 079-26 Standard for Training in the Use of Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), 2026, 1st Ed. (added September 1, 2026)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 080-26 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Reporting and Review, 2026, 1st Ed. (added September 1, 2026)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 091-26 Standard for Training in Analysis of Forensic Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Data, 2026, 1st Ed. (added September 1, 2026)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 110-20 Standards for Training in Forensic Serological Methods, 2020, 1st Ed. (added August 3, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 115-20 Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, DNA Separation, and Allele Detection, 2020, 1st Ed. (added August 3, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 116-20 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods, 2020, 1st Ed. (added August 3, 2021)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 123-24 Standard for Routine Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocol, 2024, 1st Ed. (added July 2, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 130-21 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Amplification Methods for Subsequent Capillary Electrophoresis Sequencing, 2021, 1st Ed. (added April 5, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 131-21 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Sequencing Using Capillary Electrophoresis, 2021, 1st Ed. (added April 5, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 136-26 Forensic Laboratory Standard for Prevention, Monitoring, and Mitigation of Human DNA Contamination, 2026, 1st Ed. (added September 1, 2026)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 140-21 Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, Interpretation, Comparison, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting, 2021, 1st Ed. (added April 5, 2022)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 154-24 Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology, 2024, 1st Ed. (added October 1, 2024)
  • ANSI/ASB Standard 175-24 Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events, 2024, 1st Ed. (added December 3, 2024)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0003 Standards for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms. (added November 7, 2023)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0021 Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses – General Protocol, Protocol Verification, and Case Record Requirements (added January 5, 2023)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0028 Standard for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic Investigations (added November 1, 2022)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0029 Standard for Familial DNA Searching (added January 5, 2023)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0040 Standard for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods (added August 4, 2026)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0041 Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods (added August 4, 2026)

At an SDO for Further Development & Publication

  • ASB Best Practice Recommendation 006-2x Best Practice Recommendation for DNA Analysis for Human Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Best Practice Recommendation 129-2x Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms
  • ASB Standard 018-2x Standard for Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 020-2x Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 022-2x Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 023-2x Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 038-2x Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 039-2x Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms
  • ASB Standard 040-2x Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 041-2x Formulating Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations
  • ASB Standard 077-2x Standard for the Development and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 110-2x Standards for Training in Forensic Serological Methods, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 115-2x Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, Separation, and Allele Detection, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 116-2x Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods, 2nd Ed.
  • ASB Standard 186-2x Standard for Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses
  • ASB Standard 187-2x Standard for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic Investigations
  • ASB Standard 199-2x Standard for Familial DNA Searching
  • ASB Standard 215-2x Standard for Determining Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms
  • OSAC 2021-S-0003 Standards for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms. (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0021 Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses – General Protocol, Protocol Verification, and Case Record Requirements (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0028 Standard for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic Investigations (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2021-S-0029 Standard for Familial DNA Searching (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0040 Standard for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
  • OSAC 2022-S-0041 Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)

Under Development

  • OSAC 2022-S-0024 Best Practice Recommendations for Communicating the Value of DNA Comparisons
  • OSAC 2025-S-1003 Standard for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification
  • OSAC 2025-S-1004 Best Practice Recommendation for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification

Other Work Products

Technical Guidance Documents

Presentations

Process Maps

Reference Documents

Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.

Research & Development Needs

Implementation Resources

  • The OSAC Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee has developed an assessment guide and worksheet laboratories can use to help evaluate whether they have met the requirements listed in section 4 of ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2019, 1st Ed.
  • In late 2021, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) entered into a cooperative agreement with NIST to develop tools, resources, and training to assist with standards implementation efforts. As part of this agreement, AAFS is developing checklists that forensic science service providers can use to provide objective evidence of implementation or compliance with a standard, identify gaps or impediments to implementation, or track progress towards implementation. A checklist for ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019 has been developed and is available on AAFS's Standards Checklists webpage. 
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