AAFS Biological Methods 

Subcommittee Progress

Kimberly Murga

February 22, 2016
Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Kimberly Murga Las Vegas 

Metropolitan 

Police Department

2 K10140M@lvmpd.com

Vice Chair Margaret Sanger Kentucky State 

Police

2 Margaret.sanger@ky.g

ov

Executive 

Secretary

Jason Befus Maryland State 

Police

2 Jason.befus@marylan

d.gov

2
Subcommittee Members

# Name Organization Term Email

1 Caroline Zervos FBI 2 caroline.zervos@ic.fbi.gov

2 Taylor Scott Illinois State Police 2 taylor_scott@isp.state.il.us

3 Eric Buel Self Employed, Forensic Consultant 2 eric.buel.vt@gmail.com

4 Peter Vallone NIST 2 peter.vallone@nist.gov

5 Susan Greenspoon Virginia Dept. of Forensic Science 3 Susan.Greenspoon@dfs.Virginia.gov

6 Eugene Lien NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner 3 ELien@ocme.nyc.gov

7 Elisa Wurmbach NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner 3 ewurmbach@ocm.nyc.gov

8 Sean Oliver Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory 3 robert.s.oliver28.ctr@mail.mil

9 Stacy McDonald Dallas County Southwestern Institute of Forensic 

Sciences

3 smcdonald@dallascounty.org

10 Amy McGuckian Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office 3 amy.mcguckiana@pbso.org

11 Amy Jeanguenat BODE Technology 3 amy.jeanguenat@bodetech.com

12 Steven Weitz Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

Explosives

4 Steven.witz@atf.gov

13 Daniele Podini The George Washington University 4 podini@gwu.edu

14 Ann Gross MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 4 ann.gross@state.mn.us

15 Debra Glidewell DoD/Defense Forensic Science Center 4 Debra.e.glidewell.civ@mail.mil

16 Bruce McCord Florida International University 4 mccordb@fiu.edu

17 Kristine Kadash Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab 4 kkadash@co.Jefferson.co.us

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Subcommittee Affiliates

# Name Organization Email

1 Melissa Suddeth Florida Department of Law 

Enforcement

melissasuddeth@fdle.state.fl.us

2 Bill Gartside San Bernardino County 

Sheriff’s Department

bgartside@sbcsd.org

3 Jeffrey Nye State of Michigan 

Department of State Police 

Forensic Science Division

nyej1@michigan.gov

4 David Foran Michigan State University foran@msu.edu

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Discipline Description

Biological Methods

The Biological Methods Subcommittee will 

focus on establishing standards and 

guidelines that support molecular and 

biochemical methods used to analyze 

evidence and reference items.

• This encompasses everything from 

serology through loading samples on a 

Genetic Analyzer. This subcommittee 

does not cover anything related to 

interpretation (serology interpretation or 

DNA interpretation)

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Monthly Telephonic Meetings Held

• 4 Task Groups 

• Terminology (being overseen at Biology/DNA SAC Level)

• Validation and Method Development

• Education /Training/Competency/Certification (ETCC)

• Serological Examination of Biological Evidence

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Topic 1: Forensic Biology Terminology

Priority Level: High 

Description: To develop a standardized list of terms with definitions 

applicable across the forensic biology disciplines.

Draft Documents Created: 2 Lists, work is in progress

Task Group Chair Name: Eric Buel

Task Group Chair Contact Information: eric.buel.vt@gmail.com

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Committee Action Plan

Priority Planned Actions Approx. 

Deadline Assignee

1 Evaluate current lists of terms and focus 

on biology-specific terms (move nonbiology terms to a separate list)

March, 2016 Terminology Task Group

2 Complete drafts for subcommittee

evaluation and feedback

April, 2016 Terminology Task Group

3 Incorporate feedback and modify list of 

terms as appropriate

June, 2016 Terminology Task Group

4 List(s) of biology-specific terms completed 

for review by Biology/DNA SAC 

July, 2016 Terminology Task Group

Topic 1: Forensic Biology Terminology

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Topic 2: Validation and Method 

Development

Description: To Create Standards and Guidelines for the Validation 

of Standard Operating Procedures

Draft Standards and Guidelines Created: In progress

Task Group Chair Name: Steven Weitz

Task Group Chair Contact Information: steven.weitz@atf.gov

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Topic 2: Validation and Method 

Development

• Content: SWGDAM and QAS inspired standards and 

guidelines

• Definitions

• Standards related to:

• Developmental Validation 

• Internal Validation 

• Material Modification

• Performance Check

• Software

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Committee Action Plan

Priority Planned Actions Approx. Deadline Assignee

1 Develop a guideline related to validation and 

method development with best practices

March 2016 Validation Task 

Group

2 Develop standards related to internal and 

developmental validations associated with:

1) DNA Extraction

2) Quantitation

3) STRs

4) Capillary Electrophoresis

5) High Throughput Sequencing (NGS)

May 2016 Validation Task

Group

3 Present guidelines and standards to 

Subcommittee for review/comments

June 2016 Validation Task

Group

4 Present guidelines and standards to Biology/DNA 

SAC for review/comments

July 2016 Validation Task

Group

Topic 2: Validation and Method Development

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Topic 3: Education/Training/ 

Competency/Certification (ETCC)

Description: This group’s focus is to establish standards and guidelines 

for training, education, competency, and certification that impact 

forensic practitioners, laboratory personnel, and the legal community.

Draft Standards and Guidelines Created: In progress

Task Group Chair Name: Kristine Kadash

Task Group Chair Contact Information: kkadash@co.Jefferson.co.us

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Topic 3: Education/Training/ 

Competency/Certification (ETCC)

•Content: QAS Inspired Includes:

•Detailed educational requirements

•DNA training modules

•Laboratory tasks and topics to include 

statistics, CODIS, validation, review, lab 

policies, interpretation guidelines, and 

reporting guidelines

•Assessment/final evaluation requirements

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Committee Action Plan

Priority Planned Actions Approx. 

Deadline Assignee

1 Consider comments from SAC on format of the draft 

Training Standard document and devise a plan to address 

them.

January 2016 Task Group

2 Divide single document into the following sections for 

elaboration:

1) Guidance document for Education Requirements

2)Guidance document for General Laboratory Issues

3) Training Standard for DNA Isolation and Purification 

Methods

4) Training Standard for Real-Time PCR Quantification 

Methods

5) Training Standard for STR Typing via Capillary 

Electrophoresis

6) Training Standard for Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing 

Analysis

February 2016

Daniele Podini/David 

Foran

Kristine Kadash

Kristine Kadash

Daniele Podini

Stacy McDonald

Ann Marie Gross

3 Monthly conference calls (frequency may be changed 

based on need)

March 2016 Task Group

4 Submit drafts of one or more documents to SAC and ASB August 2016 Task Group

Topic 3: Education/Training/ Competency/Certification (ETCC)

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Topic 4: Serology Standards

Description: These standards focus on serology, body fluid ID, 

sample identification and collection. Includes sexual assault kits, 

serological methods, evidence screening, body fluid/tissue 

identification and contamination prevention.

Draft Document Created: Standards for the Collection and 

Serological Examination of Biological Evidence 

Task Group Chair Name: Caroline Zervos

Task Group Chair Contact Information: caroline.zervos@ic.fbi.gov

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Topic 4: Standards for the Collection 

and Serological Examination of 

Biological Evidence

• Content: SWGDAM Inspired 

• Includes 

• Definitions

• Training Requirements

• Serological Testing Fundamentals

• Proficiency Testing Requirements

• Evidence Control

• Contamination Prevention

• Validation Requirements

• Equipment Calibration and Maintenance

• Reporting and Reviews

• Corrective Action

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Committee Action Plan

Priority Planned Actions Approx. 

Deadline Assignee

1 Review ASTM Standards/ASB formatting February 2016 Task Group

2 Break up document into three main areas:

Training/Proficiency Tests

Validation 

Analytical Procedures 

February 2016 Task Group

3 Submit to Subcommittee vote March 2016 Amy Jeanguenat

4 Submit to Biology/DNA Scientific Area 

Committee

March 2016 Caroline Zervos

5 Identify specific focus documents to establish 

best practices

April 2016 Task Group

Topic 4: Standards for the Collection and Serological Examination of 

Biological Evidence

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Research Needs and Gaps Identified

• Improving the analysis of serological evidence for the identification of body 

fluids

• Considerable research has been conducted to improve DNA analysis techniques, 

but little has changed during serological analysis of evidence

• It would be beneficial to add methods which would streamline and decrease the 

serological analysis time on time-intensive items like sheets, clothing, etc.

• Probabilistic genotyping of low copy number samples

• Low copy number DNA analysis involves the presence of mixtures

• Interpretation is difficult due to effects of stochastic amplification, allele dropout 

and allele drop-in

• An expert system for this analysis would assist in the development of applications 

for this procedure

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What’s Next for Biological Methods 

Subcommittee?

•Task Groups are refining draft documents 

based upon extensive discussions and 

feedback during the January 2016 OSAC 

meeting

•Adding more details, content, etc.

•Gain OSAC approval to submit 

documents to an Standards Development 

Organization for approval

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Thank You!

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