2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

2021-S-0011

Standards for the

Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern

Analysis Reporting

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee

Physics/Pattern Interpretation Scientific Area Committee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science

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2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

OSAC Proposed Standard

2021-S-0011

Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

Prepared by

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee

Version: 2.0

February 2022

Disclaimer:

This OSAC Proposed Standard was written by the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Subcommittee/Physics/Pattern Interpretation Scientific Area Committee of the Organization of Scientific

Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science following a process that includes an open comment

period. This Proposed Standard will be submitted to a standards developing organization and is subject to

change.

There may be references in an OSAC Proposed Standard to other publications under development by

OSAC. The information in the Proposed Standard, and underlying concepts and methodologies, may be

used by the forensic-science community before the completion of such companion publications.

Any identification of commercial equipment, instruments, or materials in the Proposed Standard is not a

recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Government and does not imply that the equipment,

instruments, or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

To be placed on the OSAC Registry, certain types of standards first must be reviewed by a Scientific and

Technical Review Panel (STRP). The STRP process is vital to OSAC’s mission of

generating and recognizing scientifically sound standards for producing and interpreting forensic

science results. The STRP shall provide critical and knowledgeable reviews of draft standards or of

proposed revisions of standards previously published by standards developing organizations (SDOs) to

ensure that the published methods that practitioners employ are scientifically valid, and the resulting

claims are trustworthy.

The STRP panel will consist of an independent and diverse panel, including subject matter experts,

human factors scientists, quality assurance personnel, and legal experts, which will be tasked with

evaluating the proposed standard based on a comprehensive list of science-based criteria.

For more information about this important process, please visit our website at:

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/scientific-technical-r

eview-panels

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2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

Standards for the Technical Review of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Reporting

Foreword

This document provides standards for the technical review of Bloodstain Pattern

Analysis (BPA) reporting.

1. Scope

This document is intended to be applicable to all reports containing BPA results,

interpretations, or opinions. Written reports that include opinions based on

professional judgment should undergo technical review.

2. Introduction

In addition to an administrative review, all bloodstain pattern analysis reports shall be

subject to a technical review. The technical review is designed to ensure the correct

application of the methodology and the appropriateness of the reported information.

This review offers an opportunity to ensure there is appropriate and sufficient

support for the actions, results, opinions, and interpretations which may have

occurred during the analysis or in the generation of the report. In addition, the

technical review provides a means of reassurance and confidence to its

stakeholders that quality measures have been followed.

3. Normative References

Standard for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program, ANSI/ASB Standard

032, 1

st Ed.2020

Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. ANSI/ASB Standard 031,

1

st Ed. 2020

4. Terms and Definitions.

4.1 Terms

The following terms are meant to convey the meanings specified.

4.1.1

Shall – Used to indicate a provision is mandatory (unless otherwise documented for

non-compliance)

4.1.2

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2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

Should – Used to indicate that a provision is not mandatory but recommended as

good practice.

4.2 Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.

4.2.1

Administrative Review - An evaluation of the report and supporting documentation

for consistency with a forensic science service provider’s policies, and for editorial

correctness.

4.2.2

Forensic Science Service Provider (FSSP) – A forensic science agency or forensic

science practitioner providing forensic sciences services.

4.2.3

Technical Review – A qualified analyst’s evaluation of reports, notes, data, and other

documentation to ensure there is appropriate and sufficient support for the actions,

results, opinions, and interpretations.

5. General

5.1 Forensic Science Service Providers shall establish written policies and

procedures for the Technical Review of BPA reporting. (Refer to ANSI/ASB

Standard 031 Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis)

5.2 The technical review shall be performed by a trained bloodstain pattern

analyst. (Refer to ANSI/ASB Standard 032 Standards for a Bloodstain

Pattern Analyst’s Training Program)

6 Technical Review Process

It is essential that the technical reviewer be objective. Factors that may undermine

objectivity such as personal relationships and conflict of interest should be

considered.

The technical reviewer should be made aware of what the original analyst was

asked to do prior to conducting the technical review.

The reviewer shall evaluate supporting documentation prior to reviewing the

analyst’s report. Deviations from this process shall be documented. Supporting

documentation reviewed may include:

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2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

6.1 Scene/Evidence Documentation

a. Photographic Images – All photographic images that were supplied

to or generated by the reporting analyst.

b. Crime scene diagrams/documentations/scans/videos

6.2 Forensic/medical reports

6.3 Analyst’s supporting documentation

6.3.1 Documented checks of data transfers, comparison, measurements, and hand

calculations.

6.4 Other relevant documentation (e.g., police reports, court transcripts)

6.5 Outside forensic service provider BPA report (if references are made to it

in the original analyst’s report)

6.6 Analyst’s report

Any amendments made to the supporting materials (e.g., observations, notes,

etc.) as a result of the technical review shall be documented by the analyst.

7 Conflict Resolution

Attempts shall be made to resolve disagreement(s) that occur during the review

process.

In the event both parties cannot come to an agreement on a result, opinion, or

interpretation, ), the disagreement shall be documented in the case record.

The following steps may be taken during the conflict resolution:

● If a disagreement occurs regarding observations/classification of a

bloodstain pattern, the resolution may be to report the most specific

classification that results in an agreement. For instance, this may mean

reporting to a higher level of classification (i.e., less specific) or reporting

as inconclusive/no interpretation.

o Example: A disagreement between the classification of a pattern as

an expiration pattern vs. an impact pattern might result in the

classification being reported as a spatter pattern.

● If a disagreement occurs over an interpretation or opinion, the resolution

may be to report the most specific case interpretation or opinion on which

both the analyst and the reviewer agree.

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2021-S-0011 Standards for the Technical Review of

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Reporting

o Example: A disagreement in a case interpretation between whether

a victim was kneeling or upright during an impact bloodshed event

might result in the reporting of the height (area of convergence) of

the impact pattern alone with no further interpretation.

If necessary, another qualified analyst may be consulted to assist in resolving a

disagreement. The consultation shall be documented in the case file.

8 Documentation of the Technical Review

The technical review shall be documented and maintained in the case record of

the analyst. The documentation shall include, at minimum:

● Signature (or electronic equivalent) of the reviewer(s)

● Date(s) of review

● Case file identification

The signature of the technical reviewer confirms the reviewer is in agreement

with the results, opinions, and interpretations in the report and each is supported

in the case file.

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