Priority Action Report

Gunshot Residue (GSR) 

Subcommittee

Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC

Michael V. Martinez Subcommittee Chair 

February 23, 2016
2
Gunshot Residue (GSR) Subcommittee

• The OSAC Subcommittee on Gunshot 

Residue will focus on standards and 

guidelines related to analyses of 

evidence that results from the deposition 

of or physical transfer of small or minute 

quantities of gunshot residue.

3
Gunshot Residue (GSR) Subcommittee

4
Gunshot Residue (GSR) 

Subcommittee Leadership

Position Name Organization Term Email

Chair Michael V. Martinez

Bexar Co. Criminal

Investigation 

Laboratory

4 mmartinez@bexar.org

Vice 

Chair Carol Crowe Colorado Bureau of 

Investigation (CBI) 3 carol.crowe@state.co.us

Executive 

Secretary Matney Wyatt

U.S. Army Criminal 

Investigation 

Laboratory

4 john.m.wyatt20.civ@mail.mil

5
Gunshot Residue (GSR) 

Subcommittee Members

# First Last Organization Term Email

1 Michael Trimpe Hamilton Co. Coroners Lab 2 trimpegolf@gmail.com

2 Wayne Niemeyer McCrone Associates 3 wniemeyer@mccrone.com

3 Debra Gibson LA Co. ME 2 dgibson@coroner.lacounty.gov

4 Doug DeGaetano Virginia Dept. of Forensic Science 3 Doug.DeGaetano@dfs.virginia.gov

5 James Garcia US Army Crime Lab 3 james.d.garcia1.civ@mail.mil

6 Koren Powers West Virginia Sate Forensic Lab 4 koren.k.powers@wvsp.gov

7 Nicholas Ritchie NIST 4 nicholas.ritchie@nist.gov

8 David Freehling North Carolina St. Crime Lab 2 Dfreehling@ncdoj.gov

9 Frank Platek US FDA 2 Frank.Platek@fda.hhs.gov

10 Suzanne Bell West Virginia University 2 Suzanne.Bell@mail.wvu.edu

11 Rodney Simmons Wyoming State Crime Lab 4 rodney.simmons@wyo.gov

12 Thomas White Texas DPS 3 Thomas.White@dps.texas.gov

13 Robert Berk Illinois State Police 2 berkrob@isp.state.il.us

14 Emily Weber Hamilton Co. Coroners Lab 3 emily.weber@hamilton-co.org\

15 John Drugan Massachusetts State Police Forensic 4

john.drugan@massmail.state.ma.us

16 Dave Edwards JEOL USA, Inc. 3

dedwards@jeol.com

17 Jason Schroeder Harris Co. ME 4

Jason.Schroeder@ifs.hctx.net

6
Task Group Chairs

7

Task Group Name

Proficiency, Competency and Training Thomas White

Reporting, Qualifiers, Disclaimers and 

Interpretation

Debra Gibson

Validation and Instrument 

Requirements

Nicholas Richie

Methodology, Research and Literature Suzanne Bell

Testimony and Ethics Michael Trimpe
Subcommittee Liaisons

8

Position Name

QIC Liaison James Garcia

HFC Liaison Mike Trimpe

LRC Liaison Emily Weber

KAVI Liaison Matney Wyatt
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

Priority Working Title of Document

HIGH (RA-1) ASTM E1588-10: Standard Guide for Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron 

Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry

HIGH (SDO-2) GSR Training Guide (New Document)

HIGH (SDO-3) GSR Testimony (New Document)

HIGH (SDO-4) Report writing, Qualifying Statements and Interpretation (New Document)

MEDIUM (SDO-5) Methodology, Research, and Literature Review (New Document)

MEDIUM (SDO-6) Validation and Instrument requirements (New Document)

MEDIUM (RA-7) ASTM E620-11 Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical 

Experts

MEDIUM (SDO-8) Task irrelevant information when considering cognitive and contextual bias in GSR 

analysis (New Document)

9
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Document Title: 

(RA-1) ASTM E1588-10: Standard Guide for Gunshot Residue 

Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray 

Spectrometry

Scope: 

This guide covers the analysis of gunshot residue (GSR) by scanning 

electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) using 

manual and automated methods. 

Objective/rationale: 

The objective is to provide a standard method for the analysis and 

classification of primer gunshot residues by SEM/EDS.

Task Group Name: E1588 Task Group

Task Group Chair Name: James Garcia & Mike Martinez

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

10
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 1 Document

Key Components of Standard: 

(RA-1) ASTM E1588-10: Standard Guide for Gunshot Residue Analysis by 

Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry

•A best practice guide when conducting the analysis and 

interpretation of primer gunshot residues. 

11
Task Group/Subcommittee Action Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Working with ASTM e30.01 

pending final release

RA-100 J. Garcia April 2016

Submit SDO Packet for SAC 

Approval

RA-200 M. Martinez May 2016

SAC Voting results RA-300 M. Martinez August 2016

Priority 1: (RA-1)E1588-10: Standard Guide for Gunshot Residue Analysis by 

Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry

12
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-2) GSR Training Guide (New Document)

Scope: 

This standard provides a summary of the knowledge and skills that 

should be demonstrated in order to establish competency as an independent 

GSR analyst. These recommendations shall be used in conjunction with the 

laboratory’s existing training protocols and standard operating procedures. 

Objective/rationale:

The training guide outlines and describes the goals for a 

comprehensive training program in gunshot primer residue (GSR) analysis by 

scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry 

(SEM/EDS).

Task Group Name: Proficiency, Competency and Training

Task Group Chair Name: Thomas White

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

13
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 2 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-2) GSR Training Guide (New Document)

• Outlines and describes key areas to be mastered by a trainee 

performing GSR examination by SEM/EDS.

• Compilation of suggested readings to supplement the training 

guide.

14
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Additions and edits to 

document. Subcommittee 

vote to push forward.

SDO-100; 200 T. White March 2016

Send document to resource

committees for comment.

--- T. White &

Liaisons

April 2016

Complete the SDO Process 

Request form and submit 

documents to the SAC.

SDO-300 T. White July 2016

Priority 2: 

(SDO-2) GSR Training Guide (New Document)

15
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-3) GSR Testimony (New Document)

Scope: 

GSR Testimony is challenging because the interpretation of results requires consideration 

of various issues from particle formation through collection and analysis that may be raised. This 

document will attempt to address commonly encountered questions presented in testimony, 

appropriate answers, and examples of testimony limitations pertaining to GSR. The document will 

also provide guidance to a witness in preparing for admissibility of GSR evidence. 

Objective/rationale:

This standard/guide will attempt to provide assistance in preparation for GSR specific 

testimony including admissibility issues, limitations, and answers to commonly asked questions when 

giving testimony in a criminal court of law. 

Task Group Name: Testimony and Ethics

Task Group Chair Name: Michael Trimpe

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

16
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 3 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-3) GSR Testimony (New Document)

• Examples of questions and answers a GSR expert may encounter while 

giving testimony.

• A list of limitations in interpretation of GSR results when testifying

• Assistance in preparation for an admissibility hearing in GSR

• This document will be used to supplement existing legal literature used 

to describe the roles and responsibilities of Expert Witness Testimony in 

the U.S. Criminal Court system.

17
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Additions and edits to 

document. Subcommittee 

vote to push forward.

SDO-100; 200 M. Trimpe April 2016

Send document to resource

committees for comment.

--- M. Trimpe &

Liaisons

May 2016

Complete the SDO Process 

Request form and submit 

documents to the SAC.

SDO-300 M. Trimpe & 

M. Martinez

July 2016

Priority 3: 

(SDO-3) GSR Testimony (New Document)

18
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-4) Report writing, Qualifying Statements and Interpretation (New Document)

Scope: 

The goal of this standard/guide will be to compile, evaluate and 

suggest a unified reporting method when issuing GSR reports to our 

customers. The focus will be on identifying common language used while 

attempting to strengthen report conclusions with clear and concise verbiage.

Objective/rationale:

To determine the clearest and most unambiguous language to use 

when creating a GSR report. 

Task Group Name: Report writing, Qualifying statements and 

Interpretation

Task Group Chair Name: Debra Gibson

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27 19 -29, 2016
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 4 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-4) Report writing, Qualifying Statements and Interpretation (New Document)

• Submit and evaluate questionnaires given to laboratories 

performing GSR analysis.

• Collect examples of reports or the language used when reporting 

the conclusion of results.

• Define common GSR specific terms.

20
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Additions and edits to 

document. Subcommittee 

vote to push forward.

SDO-100 D. Gibson 2017

Send document to resource

committees for comment.

--- D. Gibson &

Liaisons

Priority 4: 

(SDO-4) Report writing, Qualifying Statements and Interpretation 

(New Document)

21
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-5) Methodology, Research, and Literature Review (New Document)

Scope: 

To discuss and collate a list of GSR research projects, database 

bibliographic reference material and draft ideas for additional methodology. 

Standards will be developed for new methodologies. 

Objective/rationale:

The objective is to develop standards for new methodologies in the 

field of GSR analysis.

Task Group Name: Methodology, Research and Literature

Task Group Chair Name: Suzanne Bell

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

22
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 5 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-5) Methodology, Research, and Literature Review (New Document)

• Evaluate new and alternative methods for the detection of GSR 

and develop standards.

23
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Recommend standard/ 

guideline.

SDO-100 S. Bell

Priority 5: 

(SDO-5) Methodology, Research, and Literature Review (New 

Document)

24
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 6 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-6) Validation and Instrument requirements (New Document)

Scope: 

There is a need in the GSR community for guidance to create 

standards dealing with specific criteria for instruments used for the detection 

of GSR by SEM/EDS.

Objective/rationale:

To develop standards required for SEM/EDS and validation/calibration 

requirements for the detection of GSR by SEM/EDS

Task Group Name: Validation, Performance and Instrument 

Requirements

Task Group Chair Name: Nicholas Ritchie

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27 25 -29, 2016
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 6 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-6) Validation and Instrument requirements (New Document)

• To develop standards required for SEM/EDS and 

validation/calibration requirements for the detection of GSR by 

SEM/EDS.

26
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Recommend standard/ 

guideline.

SDO-100 N. Ritchie

Priority 6: 

(SDO-6) Validation and Instrument requirements (New Document)

27
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 7 Documents

Document Title:

(RA-7) ASTM E620-11 Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or 

Technical Experts

Scope: 

This practice covers the scope of information to be contained in formal 

written technical reports which express the opinions of the scientific or 

technical expert with respect to the study of items that are or may reasonably 

be expected to be the subject of criminal or civil litigation.

Objective/rationale:

This practice establishes those elements of the expert's opinion report 

which will make the report understandable to the intended recipient and focus 

on the technical aspects germane to the purpose for which the opinion is 

rendered.

Task Group Name: ASTM E620 Liaison

Task Group Chair Name: M. Martinez

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

28
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 7 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(RA-7) ASTM E620-11 Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or 

Technical Experts

• A best practice guide to develop a unified method for reporting 

conclusions of forensic results.

29
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Recommend standard/ 

guideline.

SDO-100 M. Martinez

Priority 7: 

(RA-7) ASTM E620-11 Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of 

Scientific or Technical Experts

30
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 8 Documents

Document Title:

(SDO-8) Task irrelevant information when considering cognitive and contextual 

bias in GSR analysis (New Document)

Scope: 

The OSAC Human Factors Resource Committee (HFC) has brought 

forth concerns about cognitive and contextual bias in forensic science 

analysis. What information is necessary for the analyst in each sub 

discipline? 

Objective/rationale:

This document will attempt to describe a method for analyzing GSR 

samples without bias including a list of task relevant and task irrelevant 

information the analyst needs for proper analysis and when certain 

information can be known in an attempt to eliminate bias.

Task Group Name: Testimony and Ethics

Task Group Chair Name: Michael Trimpe

Date of Last Task Group Meeting: January 27-29, 2016

31
Standards/Guidelines Development

Priority 8 Documents

Key Components of Standards: 

(SDO-8) Task irrelevant information when considering cognitive and contextual 

bias in GSR analysis (New Document)

• Identify task relevant and task irrelevant information necessary to 

analyze GSR samples.

• Describe a method to ensure bias free analysis of GSR.

• Describe a sequence of revealing information to ensure proper 

analysis of GSR evidence. 

32
Task Group/Subcommittee Action 

Plan

Planned Actions

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., 

SDO 100) 

Assignee Estimated

Completion Date

Additions and edits to 

document. Subcommittee 

vote to push forward.

SDO-100; 200 M. Trimpe August 2016

Send document to resource

committees for comment

--- M. Trimpe &

Liaisons

September 2016

Complete the SDO Process 

Request form and submit 

documents to the SAC.

SDO-300 M. Trimpe & 

M. Martinez

October 2016

Priority 8: 

(SDO-8) Task irrelevant information when considering cognitive and 

contextual bias in GSR analysis (New Document)

33
Summary of Standards/Guidelines 

Priority Actions

Priority Working Title of Document

HIGH (RA-1) ASTM E1588-10: Standard Guide for Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron 

Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry

HIGH (SDO-2) GSR Training Guide (New Document)

HIGH (SDO-3) GSR Testimony (New Document)

HIGH (SDO-4) Report writing, Qualifying Statements and Interpretation (New Document)

MEDIUM (SDO-5) Methodology, Research, and Literature Review (New Document)

MEDIUM (SDO-6) Validation and Instrument requirements (New Document)

MEDIUM (RA-7) ASTM E620-11 Standard Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical 

Experts

MEDIUM (SDO-8) Task irrelevant information when considering cognitive and contextual bias in GSR 

analysis (New Document)

34
Standards/Guidelines Reviewed For 

Technical Merit

Title Developing 

Organization Status*

OSAC Process 

Stage (e.g., RA 

100)

(RA-1) ASTM E1588-10: Standard Guide for 

Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning 

Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive XRay Spectrometry

ASTM 

International

In SDO 

Revision

SDO-300

35
Research Gaps Identified

• Specific identification of shooters

• Comprehensive GSR persistence study

• Development of Characterized Reference Stubs

• Fundamental research into mechanism of particle 

formation

36

Note- Numerous additional needs have been discussed and will be released over time as the 

concepts are further developed.
Additional Items

• SAC Task Group Liaisons:

• Proficiency

• Liaison: Thomas White

• Terminology

• Liaison: Doug Degaetano

• Training

• Liaison: Rodney Simmons

• QA

• Liaison: Koren Powers 

37
Additional Items

• Other Task Groups Formed:

• Relevance/Importance to Customer

• Chair: James Garcia

• Contact: james.d.garcia1.civ@mail.mil

• Contamination

• Chair: Jason Schroeder

• Contact: Jason.Schroeder@ifs.hctx.net

38
Additional Items of Interest

• Established a joint corporation with the European Network of 

Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and appoint a liaison. 

• OSAC GSR members who are now ENFSI Firearms & GSR committee 

associate members:

• Michael Trimpe

• Michael Martinez

39
Additional Items of Interest

• GSR Subcommittee Affiliate Members:

40

Lawrence Gunaratnam National Bureau of Investigation Finland

Ludwig Niewoehner Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)

Michael McVicar Centre of Forensic Sciences

Nadav Levin Forensic Scientist, Isreal

Peter Ross Victoria Police Forensic Services Dept.

Karl Lueftl Bavarian State Criminal Police Office

JJ Cavaleri Los Angeles Co. Sheriffs Office Lab
Priority Action Report

Gunshot Residue (GSR) 

Subcommittee

Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC

Michael V. Martinez Subcommittee Chair 

February 23, 2016