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Implementation of OSAC Registry Approved 

Standards and Outreach

Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction:

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science Charter and Bylaws states 

that the OSAC mission is not only to facilitate the creation of high-quality standards but also to 

encourage widespread adoption throughout the forensic science community. In 2018, the OSAC 

Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) adopted the OSAC Registry Implementation Plan. The first year 

of focus on implementation is dedicated to forensic service providers. There are numerous challenges to 

the successful implementation of standards on the OSAC Registry and stakeholders share many of the 

same questions about the best way to proceed with the implementation process. The following 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are provided to help address these questions and concerns.

FAQ 1: Why should OSAC work to facilitate implementation by forensic science service

providers of standards on the OSAC Registry?

Answer: The 2009 NAS Report identified the lack of consistent and uniformly highquality standards across forensic science disciplines and across national, regional and 

local jurisdictions. OSAC was created in 2014 by the US DOJ and NIST specifically to 

address this issue. The process of creating high quality standards that are consensus 

based and demonstrate technical merit is arduous, requiring collaboration on the part 

of a widely diverse universe of stakeholders. OSAC has succeeded in generating a 

Registry that lists high quality standards which can address the criticisms in the NAS 

Report if implemented into practice by forensic science practitioners and recognized by 

the criminal justice system.

FAQ 2: How do forensic science service providers benefit from implementing some or all the 

standards on the OSAC Registry?

Answer: The benefits to forensic scientists and the criminal justice system differ slightly

according to the stakeholder group being impacted by standards implementation. The 

primary shared benefit across all stakeholder groups is the increase in consistency and 

quality in the production of laboratory outputs which impacts the entire criminal justice 

system. With uniformly higher quality comes improved confidence in the accuracy, 

reliability and reproducibility of test results. With improved test results comes a 
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reduction in potential errors. Reducing risks in forensic science test results can improve

not only the likelihood of successfully identifying the true perpetrator but also the 

likelihood of exonerating the innocent. Among other noteworthy benefits from 

increasing quality include the reduction in the number of cases generating equivocal 

results that often require repetitive testing. Clearer testing outcomes lead to higher 

productivity and increased efficiency resulting in the higher rates of return on 

investments in laboratory operations and more consistency in report writing and expert 

testimony.

Summarizing, implementation of standards means higher quality, consistency, accuracy, 

reliability, reproducibility, interpretable results, productivity, confidence, satisfaction of 

clients including investigators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and juries, and a 

reduction in risk, erroneous or inconclusive outcomes, uncertainty and costs associated 

with required mitigation of errors. When courts are able to begin taking judicial notice 

of expert testimony that the analysis, interpretation and reporting of results conforms 

with nationally recognized standards found on the OSAC Registry, challenges to the 

admissibility of the testimony may diminish and the impact of testimony on judges and 

juries may be enhanced.

FAQ 3: With just over 20 standards on the OSAC Registry so far, what is the urgency for

 implementation for the average forensic science practitioner?

Answer: Although the OSAC Registry has only 22 standards listed as of early fall, 2019, 

there are more than 70 OSAC standards sent to SDOs awaiting review, and nearly two 

dozen more already approved by SDOs that are currently in the Registry Approval 

Process. To access a list of the standards on the OSAC Registry, the standards sent by 

OSAC to SDOs awaiting review, and the standards already approved by SDOs that are 

currently in the Registry Approval Process, go to the OSAC Registry Implementation web

page. The range of disciplines that will be impacted directly by standards approved for 

the OSAC Registry is expanding rapidly. Finally, it should be noted that the OSAC 

Registry Implementation Plan is focused in its first year on forensic science service 

providers but will also soon focus on prosecutors, defense attorneys and the courts. 

Forensic science service providers are encouraged to initiate the standards 

implementation process in their operations proactively while it is under their control 

rather than waiting to find themselves being reactive to address questions in court. 

Expert witnesses will increasingly begin to encounter questions about whether they 

conform with standards listed on the OSAC Registry.

FAQ 4: Why does the OSAC Standards Implementation Plan include a chapter for prosecutors, 

defense attorneys and the courts?

Answer: Not everyone in the criminal justice system is aware of OSAC or the standards

listed on the OSAC Registry. Chapter 4 of the OSAC Registry Implementation Plan

specifically addresses educating the legal community. The OSAC Legal Resource 

Committee (LRC) includes prominent members from the prosecution, defense and 
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innocence projects, and judges. They are encouraging OSAC to educate members of the 

court and eagerly await the introduction of OSAC Registry standards into evidence in 

criminal cases. Judge Christopher Plourd, who chairs the OSAC LRC has already issued 

findings in a criminal case in California which mentions an OSAC Registry seized drug 

standard. Case law referencing OSAC Registry standards will predictably follow in the 

not too distant future. OSAC has the responsibility to educate members of the court 

about the nature and significance of Registry standards.

FAQ 5: What does this mean for accreditation for each individual forensic science

laboratory?

Answer: Accredited forensic science laboratories that implement some or all the 

applicable standards on the OSAC Registry in their operations will be assessed for 

conformity to those standards by accreditation bodies. If the standards are identified in 

the agency’s quality manuals, assessors will evaluate conformity during laboratory 

audits. Chapter 6 of the OSAC Registry Implementation Plan addresses educating the 

accreditation bodies and encouraging them to add the standards on the OSAC Registry 

to their supplemental standards. The OSAC Quality Infrastructure Committee 

membership currently includes representatives of the US forensic science accreditation 

bodies who serve as excellent references to provide guidance on questions about 

accreditation and the impact of implementation of standards on the OSAC Registry to 

the audit process. 

FAQ 6: Does a forensic science service provider have to implement all standards listed on

 the OSAC Registry in their entirety?

Answer: No. It is not necessary for forensic science service providers to implement all 

standards listed on the OSAC Registry. There are several ways to add standards on the 

OSAC Registry to the quality documents of the laboratory. One way is to include a 

simple statement in the Quality Manual that states that the laboratory has implemented 

all applicable standards on the OSAC Registry. Alternatively, laboratories are free to list 

individual standards or applicable portions of standards on the OSAC Registry in their 

quality documents. Sample language will be provided online in a detailed “How to” set 

of guidelines currently in preparation by the OSAC Program Office to help laboratories 

with implementation of standards on the OSAC Registry. The guidelines will include 

instructions on how to manage implementation of applicable portions of standards as 

well as entire standards.

FAQ 7: How is OSAC keeping track of the forensic science service providers that have 

 already implemented all or some of the standards on the OSAC Registry?

Answer: Currently OSAC is maintaining an internal spreadsheet to track standards 

implementation by forensic science service providers. After OSAC completes its baseline 

survey of its membership to determine initial implementation of standards listed on the 

OSAC Registry, that data will be shared publicly. If you would like to have your 
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laboratory added as an implementer of standards listed on the OSAC Registry, please 

email mark.stolorow@nist.gov for more information. Laboratories that have already 

implemented some or all of the applicable standards on the OSAC Registry may fill out 

the Laboratory Standards Implementation Declaration Form available on the OSAC 

Registry Implementation web page and forward it to mark.stolorow@nist.gov. 

FAQ 8: How can forensic science service providers be acknowledged by OSAC as an

implementer of some or all the standards on the OSAC Registry? 

Answer: Laboratories that have implemented some or all of the applicable standards on 

the OSAC Registry may fill out the Laboratory Standards Implementation Declaration 

Form available on the OSAC Registry Implementation web page and forward it to 

mark.stolorow@nist.gov. Forensic science service providers who provide their standards 

implementation status to the OSAC Program Office will be eligible to receive a printed 

OSAC Implementation Certificate. The Certificate will be suitable for framing and 

displaying onsite in the forensic science facility.

FAQ 9: How can law enforcement agencies be made aware of OSAC and the value of 

implementing standards on the OSAC Registry by the forensic science service 

providers within those agencies?

Answer: Many of the OSAC members are forensic scientists employed by law 

enforcement agencies. They have vast experience in communicating within the 

hierarchy of senior law enforcement officials in their own agencies and can recommend 

the most effective ways of communicating with them. The FSSB Outreach and 

Communication Task Group and the OSAC Program Office are also examining select 

professional law enforcement organizations to target for improved outreach and 

communication to increase awareness and support of OSAC and the value proposition 

of implementing standards on the OSAC Registry. A variety of outreach tools are also 

under consideration for social media, online communication, emails and printed 

materials.

FAQ 10: Are there other standards under development or in review by OSAC and/or

Standard Developing Organizations (SDOs) that should be considered for future 

implementation by forensic science service providers?

Answer: Yes. As mentioned in FAQ 3, although there are just over 20 standards 

currently on the OSAC Registry, there are more than 70 OSAC standards that have been 

sent to SDOs awaiting review and nearly two dozen more already approved by SDOs 

that are currently in the Registry Approval Process. The range of disciplines that will be 

impacted directly by standards approved for the Registry is expanding rapidly. To help 

find the standards relevant to each discipline, the OSAC Program Office is currently 

preparing a list of Registry standards compiled by discipline as well as a list of recently 

approved SDO standards working their way through the OSAC approval process, also 

categorized by discipline. In addition, the list will include a section on OSAC candidate 
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standards that have been forwarded to SDOs for consideration. The list is updated 

regularly and is located on the OSAC website on the OSAC Registry Implementation web 

page.

FAQ 11: Where can forensic science service providers find detailed guidance to help them 

with the steps to follow in implementing the standards on the OSAC Registry?

Answer: The OSAC Program Office will prepare and post online a detailed “How to” 

guidance document providing forensic science service providers with help with the 

process of implementing standards on the OSAC Registry. It will be located on the OSAC 

website on the OSAC Registry Implementation web page. The OSAC Quality 

Infrastructure Resource Committee has created a task group to assist the OSAC Program 

Office write the “How to” guidance document. The detailed guidance includes help with 

developing a logical step-wise plan. For example, the section leaders for each discipline 

will need to familiarize themselves with the standards currently on the Registry as well 

as those under consideration that might be added to the Registry over the next several 

months. The key is to focus on those standards which are applicable to the section 

leader’s specific discipline. There are a lot of standards on the Registry overall but a 

much smaller number that are specific to each discipline. As described in FAQ 10, to 

help section leaders find the standards relevant to their discipline, the OSAC Program 

Office is currently preparing a list of Registry standards compiled by discipline as well as 

a list of recently approved SDO standards working their way through the OSAC approval 

process, also separated by discipline. In addition, the list will include a section on OSAC 

candidate standards that have been forwarded to SDOs for consideration. Section 

leaders will then be able to conduct a gap analysis to evaluate if they are ready to 

implement the standards. Finally, OSAC maintains an Implementation Tracker listing 

forensic science service providers that have already implemented some or all of the 

standards on the OSAC Registry. The OSAC Program Office can facilitate discussions 

between your lab and other forensic science service providers listed on the tracker to 

provide specific standards implementation guidance based on that laboratory’s

experience.

FAQ 12: How will OSAC communicate with and help educate the forensic science industry 

and relevant stakeholder groups about the value of implementing standards on the

OSAC Registry?

Answer: Chapter 2 of the OSAC Registry Implementation Plan is titled “OSAC Member 

External Engagement.” There are more than 550 members of OSAC and several hundred 

additional OSAC affiliate members. This chapter focuses on strategies and action plans 

to leverage the current base of expertise, experience and support of OSAC that can be

tapped to help advance the implementation of standards. Current OSAC and SDO 

Consensus Body members are the perfect ambassadors for championing the very 

standards they helped develop. These scientists are forensic experts and thought 

leaders who have unique insight into the intricacies of the development of the 

standards. They may have either started or are well on their way to implementing 

standards in their own forensic science laboratories. Development of peer to peer 
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networks taps existing expertise and enables forensic scientists to steward their 

disciplines. One strategy under consideration includes OSAC members networking with 

laboratories interested in starting the implementation process. These OSAC members 

will serve as an invaluable resource for laboratories looking to adopt the new standards. 

OSAC members will also be encouraged to develop workshops, panels and

presentations for national and regional meetings. Another strategy is to implement 

individual mentorships with OSAC members reaching out to other relevant stakeholder 

groups as a natural extension of standards development and implementation.

FAQ 13: How can the standards on the OSAC Registry and standards published by SDOs that 

are currently in the Registry Approval Process be accessed?

Answer: Detailed instructions on how to access the standards are provided on the OSAC 

website Access to Standards section. 

FAQ 14: How can the standards sent to the SDOs awaiting review be accessed online by 

interested parties?

Answer: Detailed instructions on how to access the standards are provided on the OSAC 

website with links for each of the OSAC Subcommittees.