Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis 

Scientific Area Committee Public 

Meeting

Scott R. Oulton

Chair of Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC
OSAC Process

Kubler-Ross model for the 5 stages 

of grief...

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance
Accomplishments

• 1 standard on the registry and 4 more 

very close

• Many more being considered/developed

• Leading new policy decisions

3
SAC Membership

• Jose Almirall promoted to FSSB

– Welcome new member, Dr. Patrick Buzzini

• New Vice Chair elected

– Congratulations Chris Bommarito

• Bill Schnek stepped down as chair GEO

– Soliciting replacement now

4
First Standards Brought to FSSB

1. SAC Chem Seized Drugs RA-1 (Standard): 

ASTM E2329-14 Standard Practice for 

Identification of Seized Drugs, 2014 - Registry

2. SAC Chem Seized Drugs RA-3 (Standard): 

ASTM E2548-11e1 Standard Guide for 

Sampling Seized Drugs for Qualitative and 

Quantitative Analysis, 2011 – FSSB Ballot

3. SAC Chem Materials: RA-2 (Standard) ASTM 

E2926-13 Standard Test Method for Forensic 

Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray 

Fluorescence (u-XRF) – FSSB Ballot

5
First Standards Brought to FSSB

4. SAC Chem, Materials RA-4 (Standard): 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 – FSSB Ballot

5. SAC Chem Fire Debris & Explosives RA-1 

(Standard): ASTM E2881-13 Standard Test 

Method for Extraction and Derivatization of 

Vegetable Oils and Fats from Fire Debris and 

Liquid Samples with Analysis by Gas 

Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry - QIC 

Adjudication

6
SAC Working Groups

1. Terminology Task Group

2. Training Task Group

3. Proficiency Testing Task Group

4. Quality Assurance Task Group

5. Primer on Forensic Statistics

7
Terminology Task Group

• Collected terms from each chemistry 

sub-discipline

• Alphabetizing, including definition, 

source, which sub-discipline affected, 

etc.

• Goal to have list completed by July 

2016 to pass off to QIC

8
Education/Training Task Group

• Collected all education and training documents 

from chemistry SAC disciplines

• Combined foundational education and training 

elements from each document into draft standard

– Reviews and edits on going in the Task Group

• Next Steps:

– Consider utilizing proposed ASTM document on 

education/training

– Finalize product for SAC and Resource committee review

9
Proficiency Task Group

• Accreditation Requirements for Proficiency Testing 

Providers

– Intend to put ISO 17043 (Conformity assessment -- General 

requirements for proficiency testing) and ISO 13528 

(Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by 

interlaboratory comparison) for inclusion on registry as 

standards. 

• Began to write a Standard Guide for Proficiency 

Testing 

– Outline proficiency testing requirements of both proficiency 

test providers and forensic laboratories.

• Goal to have document submitted to SDO by August 

2016

10
Quality Assurance Task Group

• Developing team from Chemistry SAC 

subcommittees

• Next steps:

– Data call of all QA/QC documents within SAC

– Compare like elements for potential 

inderdisciplinary overarching standard document.

• Goal to complete within 1 year

11
Primer on Forensic Statistics

• Disconnect between forensic 

scientists and statisticians

• Working to educate both disciplines

• Final product intended for training 

entire OSAC

12
Questions?

13

Scott R. Oulton

Chair, Chemistry SAC