Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis 

Scientific Area Committee

Jose Almirall, Chair
Chemistry SAC 

Leadership

Jose Almirall, Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 

Florida International University

Chris Taylor, Vice Chair, Defense Forensic Science Center, U.S. Army 

Criminal Investigation Laboratory

Andrew Bowen, Chair, Geological Materials, U.S. Postal Inspection 

Service

Brenda Christy, Chair, Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis, Virginia 

Department of Forensic Science

Melissa Kennedy, Chair, Forensic Toxicology, ANSI-ASQ National 

Accreditation Board 

Agnes Winokur, Chair, Seized Drugs, U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Administration

Thomas White, Chair, Gunshot Residue, Texas Department of Public 

Safety Crime Laboratory

Diana Wright, Chair, Materials (Trace), FBI Laboratory

2
Other SAC 

Members 

and Liaisons

Cedric Neumann, Ph.D., South Dakota State University (Statistics 

Task Group Representative)

Hal Arkes, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, Ohio State University 

(Human Factors Representative)

Lynn Garcia, Texas Forensic Science Commission (Legal Resource 

Representative)

Adam Negrusz, Ph.D., United States Drug Testing Laboratories, Inc.

Patrick Buzzini, Sam Houston State University

Scott Oulton, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

Reta Newman, Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory

Marcela Najarro, National Institute of Standards and Technology

3
Members of the Chemistry/Instrumental Analysis SAC at the July 2019 

OSAC Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Source: https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/chemistryinstrumental-analysis
“OSAC 2.0”

Reorganization of the 

Chemistry SAC 

effective Oct. 1, 2020 

Chemistry (Seized Drugs and Toxicology), 

Marc LeBeau, Chair and Reta Newman, Vice-Chair

Seized Drugs SC, Agnes Winokur, Chair, DEA Laboratory 

Forensic Toxicology SC, Robert Johnson, Chair

Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office 

Chemistry (Trace Evidence and Ignitable Liquids), 

Chris Taylor, Chair and Chantelle Taylor, Vice-Chair 

Trace Materials SC, Diana Wright, Chair, FBI Laboratory

Ignitable Liquids, Explosives and GSR SC, Brenda Christy, 

Chair, Virginia Department of Forensic Science

5
6

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories, 2009 and 2014.

Workforce / Casework Metrics in Forensic Science

Total FTEs 

2002: 11,000

2005: 12,200

2009: 13,100

2014: 14,300

2019: 15,610 ?

Bureau of Labor Statistics

17% increase from 2016-

2026 (or 2600 new jobs)

3.8 M requests in 2014

33% Drugs

24% Biological samples

15% Toxicology
7

https://www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Workforce / Casework Metrics in Forensic Chemistry
8

Casework Analysis – Source: Paul Speaker

https://business.wvu.edu/research-outreach/forensic-business-studies/foresight
Casework/Caseload Analysis for US Population

9

For US population of 325 M (2017-2018)

Cases Items Tests Reports

Blood Alcohol 237,250 253,500 523,250 247,000

Seized Drugs 864,500 2,044,250 4,160,000 884,000

Explosives Analysis 845 585 10,075 260

Fire Debris Analysis 11,083 28,600 80,275 10,660

Gunshot Residue 15,535 17,550 21,028 9,490

Tox (Ante Mortem) 182,000 208,000 754,000 151,125

Tox (Post Mortem) 162,500 221,000 669,500 164,125

Materials (Trace) 8,515 22,750 114,985 6,988

Source: Project Foresight Annual Report 2017-2018, Paul Speaker
“Impact” of Forensic Chemistry Standards 

10

Number of Practitioners in the discipline that are affected by the standards:

1. Seized Drugs – 2M+ drug identifications/year1,2 (> 50% of forensic chemistry practitioners 

are drug chemists, ~ 300 at DEA + ~ 3000 ??? nationwide) 

2. Toxicology – 682,000 items examined2,4 (??? examiners nationwide)

3. Fire Debris, Explosives and GSR - ~ 260,000 fire debris analyses3, ~1,500 explosives analysis 

(500-800 fire debris examiners, 100-200 explosives examiners and ~ 100 GSR examiners)

4. Materials (Trace) including Geological materials – ~ 22,7502 items/year and 115,0002 tests

Other measures of “impact” that are affected by the standards:

Human Health and Welfare impact

Impact on Law Enforcement

Impact on the Justice System

Economic Impact on the US

1. NFLIS (2018)

2. Project Foresight Annual Report (2017-2018), Paul Speaker

3. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/#causesR

4. Public Labs BJS (2014)

5. Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices (2020)
Chemistry SAC ‘Mission’:

1. Review and approve existing standards 

and develop new standards

2. Provide guidance and direction to SCs 

3. Coordinate overlapping activities

4. Raise awareness and promote the 

implementation of OSAC standards

5. Publish research needs

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

12 Standards on the OSAC Registry*

Materials (Trace)

ASTM E1967 Standard Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive Index of Glass Samples Using the Oil Immersion Method and a Phase 

Contrast Microscope (effective July 7, 2020).

ASTM E2330 Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry 

(ICP-MS) for Forensic Comparisons (effective July 7, 2020).

ASTM E3085-17 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in 

Forensic Tape Examinations (effective September 11, 2018).

ASTM E1610-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Paint Analysis and Comparison 

(effective June 26, 2018).

ASTM E2937-18 Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations (effective June 26, 2018).

ASTM E2927-16e1 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in 

Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic Comparisons (effective June 5, 2018).

ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using 

Micro X-ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) Spectrometry (effective July 31, 2017).

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020

* https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/osac-registry-approved-standards

Coming Soon: ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program

ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

12 Standards on the OSAC Registry*

Forensic Toxicology

ANSI/ASB Standard 036, Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology, First Edition, 2019 (effective July 7, 2020).

ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 037, Guidelines for Opinions and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology, First Edition, 

2019 (effective November 5, 2019).

ANSI/ASB Standard 017, Standard Practices for Measurement Traceability in Forensic Toxicology, First Edition, 

2018 (effective June 18, 2019).

Seized Drugs

ASTM E2329-17 Standard Practice for Identification of Seized 

Drugs (effective August 7, 2018).

ASTM E2548-11e1 Standard Guide for Sampling Seized Drugs for Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis (effective April 3, 2017).

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020

* https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science/osac-registry-approved-standards
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

35 standards published by an SDO (completed the SDO 

consensus process)

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis: 12 standards

Materials (Trace): 12 standards

Seized Drugs: 8 standards

Forensic Toxicology: 3 standards

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020

Open comment period closed on Sept. 4, 2020:

ASTM E1388-17 Standard Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors from Fire Debris Samples.

ASTM E1412-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples

by Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal.

ASTM E1413-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples 

by Dynamic Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube.

ASTM E3189-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples 

by Static Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube.
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

35 additional standards approved by the SAC and sent to 

an SDO (drafted with input from resource TGs)

Forensic Toxicology: 10 standards

Materials (Trace): 7 standards

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis: 5 standards

Seized Drugs: 5 standards

Gunshot residue: 5 standards

Geological Materials: 3 standards

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

38 standards under development (drafted) within the 

OSAC but not yet publicly available.

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis: 14 standards

Materials (Trace): 11 standards

Forensic Toxicology: 4 standards

Seized Drugs: 4 standards

Gunshot Residue: 3 standards

Geological Materials: 2 standards

Chemistry SAC Activities 2019-2020

36 additional standards have been proposed but not yet drafted:

Geological materials: 11 proposed 

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis: 8 proposed

Materials (Trace): 6 proposed

Forensic Toxicology: 6 proposed

Seized Drugs: 4 proposed

GSR: 1 proposed

OSAC Registry: 12

Currently in Registry Approval: 6

Published by SDO: 35

Sent to SDO (Approved by SAC): 35

Drafted and under development: 38

Proposed (not yet drafted): 36

Total: 162 
Seized Drugs:

Accomplishments:

1. Published three ASTM Revision Standards at SDO level, which included their conversion from Standard 

Guides to Practices:

E1968-19 Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Cocaine

E1969-19 Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Methamphetamine and 

Amphetamine

E2125-19 Standard Practice for Microcrystal Testing in Forensic Analysis for Phencyclidine and Its Analogues

2. The handling of five standards at the ASTM SDO level during this period.

Standard Guide for The Development of EI-Mass Spectral Libraries for the Analysis of Seized Drugs

Standard Guide for Intra-laboratory Blind Quality Control Programs for Seized Drug Analysis

Annex to E2917 – Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional 

Development Programs

Continuing the ASTM Ballot Process for two standards:

WK65067 New Standard Guide for Assessment of Gas Chromatography and Electron Ionization Mass 

Spectrometry Data During the Qualitative Analysis of Seized Drugs 

Revision of E2764-11 Standard Practice for Uncertainty Assessment in the Context of Seized-Drug Analysis

3. The Seized Drugs Subcommittee partnered with Collaborative Testing Services (CTS) to conduct interlaboratory studies, starting with a series of surveys to gather information on current practices from forensic 

service providers that will assist in our task of establishing minimum standards and guidelines. Four surveys 

have been created dealing with microcrystalline testing and GC-EI-MS assessments. The first survey 

addressing the assessment of GC and EI-MS data in qualitative seized drug analysis went live on August 2020 

with the respective CTS drug analysis test.

17

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Seized Drugs:

Priorities:

1. Test method - Analytical Scheme for the Differentiation of Marijuana and Hemp in Seized Drug Analysis

With the revision of the Farm Bill in 2018, forensic science providers have had to develop and validate 

methods to distinguish Marijuana from Hemp and determine if the THC content is above 0.3%. 

Task group members met with other partners to evaluate options for collaborations, such as the NIST 

CannaQAP project that was just starting and other researchers working on interlaboratory studies, such as 

the one in Texas. The task group decided to formulate a survey to collect information (e.g. are tests being 

conducted using decision points, are forensic science providers reporting a numerical value with an 

associated uncertainty). The task group has met eight times and communicated numerous times via emails 

over the last four months. A survey has been drafted and will be distributed to the forensic community.

2. Standard Guide for Assessment of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy Data During the 

Qualitative Analysis of Seized Drugs

The subcommittee has prioritized the completion of this new document and worked on this during the allhands meeting in March of 2020. The document, in its final draft was balloted in August at the 

Subcommittee level and it passed to move to the SAC for a vote to go to ASTM. 

3. Revision of E2549 Practice for Validation of Seized Drug Analytical Methods

The Seized Drugs Subcommittee collaborated with the Fire Debris and Explosives Subcommittee to form an 

interdisciplinary task group to revise this standard and create a multi-discipline overarching standard. 

18

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Forensic Toxicology:

Accomplishments:

1. 2 Documents on the OSAC Registry 

2. 3 Documents completed Public Comment Period at ASB

3. 1 Document closes public comment period at ASB

4. Three OSAC drafted standards are in the public comment adjudication phase 

at the ASB

Standard 055: Standard for Breath Alcohol Measuring Instrument Calibration

Standard 098: Standard for Mass Spectral Data Acceptance in Forensic Toxicology

Standard 113: Standard for Identification Criteria in Forensic Toxicology

5. Four OSAC drafted standards have successfully passed the Subcommittee 

ballot and are awaiting the

OSAC 2.0 process (next step = STRP)

Guidelines for Performing Alcohol Calculations in Forensic Toxicology

Standard for the Minimum Content of Forensic Toxicology Procedures

Standard Practices for Proficiency Testing for Forensic Toxicology Laboratories

Guidelines for Specimen Collection and Preservation for Forensic Toxicology

19

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Forensic Toxicology:

Priorities:

1. Standard for Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty in Forensic Toxicology 

Laboratories - (Final) Draft document sent to Subcommittee for review 

2. Standard for Breath Alcohol Instrument Specifications - (4th) Draft document 

sent to Subcommittee for review - Task Group to adjudicate comments

3. Standard for Education, Training, and Competency of Forensic Toxicology 

Personnel - Task Group formed in March 2020

4. Standard Method for Blood Ethanol Identification and Quantitation in Forensic 

Toxicology Laboratories - Task Group formed in March 2020

5. Anticipated action over the next year - adjudicate STRP comments, then public 

comments

Guidelines for Performing Alcohol Calculations in Forensic Toxicology

One of the 4 documents selected for the STRP pilot program

6. Future documents on the Toxicology Roadmap

Quality Assurance Management Systems in Forensic Toxicology Laboratories

Standard Method for Breath Alcohol Subject Testing

20

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis:

Accomplishments:

1. Four ASTM Standards completed OSAC Open Comment Period 

2. Two new standards created by the FD&E subcommittee recently became ASTM 

standards –

E3245-20 Standard Guide for the Systematic Approach to the Extraction, Analysis, 

and Classification of Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residues in Fire Debris 

Samples – drafting documents to submit for registry approval

E3197-20 Standard Terminology Relating to Examination of Fire Debris

3. Documents currently in ballot at ASTM

Revision to E2451-13 Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire 

Debris Samples 

WK67862 Standard Practice for the Forensic Examination and Identification of Intact Explosives 

WK73117 Standard Practice for a Forensic Explosives Analysis Training Program 

WK56998 Standard Terminology Relating to the Examination of Explosives

WK73482 Standard Practice for Reporting Results and Opinions of Ignitable Liquids Analysis

WK73484 Standard Practice for Reporting Results and Opinions of Explosives Analysis

WK73923 Standard Guide for the Forensic Examination and Identification of Explosive Residues

4. Four (4) additional documents in process within the FD&E subcommittee

21

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis:

Priorities:

1. Fire Debris - Interpretation and Classification of Gas Chromatography - Electron Ionization Mass 

Spectrometry Data for the Identification of Ignitable Liquids

Restructuring and revising ASTM E1618 is our highest priority. Currently E1618 lists very cursory information 

regarding the identification of ignitable liquids. There is little to no information regarding interpreting fire 

debris data that includes complex matrices. Additionally, some of the information in E1618 is outdated or 

not validated.

2. Explosives - Standard Guide for the Forensic Examination and Identification of Explosive Residues

This document was drafted, approved by the subcommittee and approved by the SAC and has been 

submitted to ASTM as WK73923.

3. Fire Debris - Standard Practice for Validation of Methods for Analysis of Ignitable Liquids(s)/Residues

A joint task group was formed with the Seized Drugs Subcommittee to edit ASTM 2549, Validation of SeizedDrug Analytical Methods, into Standard Practice for Validation and Verification of Analytical Methods for 

Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemistry Analysis. This will serve as an over-arching 

validation document. This revised document is drafted and is in the FDE subcommittee for comment prior to 

drafting the Ignitable Liquid Annex. 

4. Explosives - Standard Practice for Validation of Methods for Analysis of Explosives

A joint task group was formed with the Seized Drugs Subcommittee to edit ASTM 2549, Validation of SeizedDrug Analytical Methods, into Standard Practice for Validation and Verification of Analytical Methods for 

Forensic Science Service Providers Performing Forensic Chemistry Analysis. This will serve as an over-arching 

validation document. This revised document is drafted and is in the FDE subcommittee for comment prior to 

drafting the Explosives Annex. 

22

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments

Materials (Trace):

1. Interlab study to test the Interpretation guide: virtual training session held, 90 participants 

completed exercise. Next steps are data analysis, study design and preliminary results presented at 

ASTM virtual meeting in October, publishing results in a peer-reviewed journal, and submitting the 

informed, resulting guide to an SDO.

2. Interdisciplinary Crime Scene guide content completed, approved, and posted to website. Funding 

has been secured to turn the content into a mobile-device app for use by crime scene personnel to 

recognize and properly collect trace evidence. A pilot version of the app is expected by June, 2021.

3. A Physical Fit TG was formally established with multi-SAC/SC participation and as a result of a public 

survey of forensic science practitioners, TG priorities have been established. The first priority is the 

drafting of an overarching guide to physical fit examinations.

4. An Interlaboratory study on microscopical hair comparisons was accepted for publication in JFS.

6. The SC continues to oversee balloting of 11 standards @ ASTM: 1 Glass (Overarch Guide), 2 Hair 

(Training and Examination), 4 Fiber (IR, Microscopy, TLC, and Fabrics/Cordage), 4 Polymer (Overarch 

Tape Guide, SEM of Polymers, XRF of Polymers, MSP of Polymers) 

7. Drafts are ongoing for the remaining overarching guides, training guides, and continued methodology 

guides for all TGs where these are not yet drafted (e.g., Glass training guide, Fiber overarching and 

training guides, Physical Match training guide)

8. The Glass TG conducted an interlaboratory study on intensity ratios for use in XRF of glass 

comparisons with the potential to update ASTM E2926 and has submitted the results of an 

interlaboratory study on interpretation of glass analysis via XRF analysis to a peer-reviewed journal.

23
Gunshot Residue:

Accomplishments:

1. ASTM E1588 (Standard Practice for Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron 

Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry) has passed ASTM ballot. 

2. The Subcommittee is adjudicating negative votes from ASTM on the following documents:

WK69622 Standard Practice for Reporting of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) by SEM/EDS

WK72526 Standard Practice for Expert Opinions on the Interpretation of pGSR Analysis

WK58547 Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of GSR using SEM/EDS

3. The Subcommittee is drafting three documents for analysis of organic gunshot residue (OGSR): collection and preservation of O-GSR, analysis of O-GSR by GC/MS, and analysis of OGSR by LC/MS.

4. The Subcommittee has begun working with EDS vendors and NIST analysts on utilizing the 

capabilities of current EDS’s to identify/eliminate particles as pGSR. We are evaluating the 

viability of programming the instrumentation to utilize the EDS k-ratios to classify particles as 

pGSR. This will reduce human factors bias, and also increase efficiency of pGSR analysis.

Priorities:

1. Once published, advance ASTM pGSR documents onto the OSAC Registry.

2. Begin updating ASTM E1588 from a Standard Practice to a Standard Test Method.

3. Begin inter-laboratory study on analysis of O-GSR components using drafted standards

4. Perform a domestic study on the prevalence of pGSR particles on the hands of individuals 

not associated to a shooting event.

5. Develop a robust automated analysis classification scheme for identifying pGSR particles. 

24

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Geological Materials:

Accomplishments:

1. Standard Guide for Determination and Comparison of Color by Visual Observation 

in Forensic Soil Examination (ASTM Work Item Number: WK70035) passed out of the 

E30.01 subcommittee and E30 votes currently being adjudicated.

2. Standard Guide for Analysis of Forensic Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray 

Diffraction (ASTM Work Item Number: WK72827) was submitted to ASTM and 

balloted in the E30.01 subcommittee. Votes being adjudicated 

3. Standard Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological Evidence for Criminal 

Forensic Applications (ASTM Work Item Number: WK70187) was balloted in the 

E30.11 subcommittee. Votes are being adjudicated and we hope to re-ballot soon.

Priorities:

1. Get the three ASTM work products (see above) through the ASTM process.

2. Draft an overarching guide to forensic soil examination (Standard Guide for the 

Forensic Analysis of Soils and Geological Materials); significant portions of this 

document have been drafted but a considerable amount of work remains.

3. Draft new documents for specific steps/instruments that are part of the forensic 

soil examination process. Several of these are already drafted but in their early 

stages (e.g., Standard Guide for Polarized Light Microscopy of Soils and Geological 

Materials for Forensic Applications and Standard Guide for SEM/EDS Analysis of Soils 

and Geological Materials for Forensic Applications).

25

Subcommittee

Organizational 

Priorities / 

Accomplishments
Other Work 

Products / 

Promote 

Implementation

1. The GEO Subcommittee produced a video demonstrating how to collect 

soil evidence at crime scenes. This video is intended to supplement the 

guide that is currently in the ASTM process. Creation of the video involved 

collaboration between OSAC, the University of Kentucky, the FBI, and the 

International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Initiative on Forensic 

Geology (IFG). Several OSAC members dedicated a week of their time to 

the project. The resulting video is currently hosted on the UK YouTube 

channel. The IUGS IFG has offered funding to add foreign language 

subtitles to the video to help distribute it to an international audience.

2. A collaboration between the Materials (Trace) SC and the Crime Scene 

Investigation SC resulted in a Technical Publication published on the SC 

website (Trace Materials Crime Scene Investigation Guide and is planned 

to be converted to an app for distribution to crime scene investigation 

personnel.

3. Numerous interlaboratory exercises ongoing within several SCs.

26
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Seized Drugs - 2 projects identified

Fire Debris and Explosives Analysis - 7 projects identified

Geological Materials - 6 project identified

Materials (Trace) - 7 projects identified

Gunshot Residue - 6 projects identified

Toxicology - 9 projects identified

Total – 37 specific research projects identified by the 

Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis SAC

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Seized Drugs

1. Acceptance Criteria for Instrumental Data Related to Qualitative Seized Drug Analysis

2. Error Rates in Qualitative Methods of Analysis

Toxicology

1. Alternative Matrices

2. Cannabinoids

3. Data Analytics in Forensic Toxicology

4. Emerging Drugs of Abuse and Therapeutic Agents

5. Herbal and Dietary Supplements and Plant-Based Toxins

6. Human Factors Toxicology

7. Laboratory Automation

8. Postmortem Distribution and Redistribution

9. The Role and Impact of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics in Forensic 

Toxicology

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Fire Debris & Explosives Analysis

1. Concentration of Extracts Containing Volatile/Unstable Explosives

Determining the Threshold of Identification for Ignitable Liquids

2. Evaluation and Comparison of Different Adsorption/Elution 

Methodology

3. Identifying Post-blast Residue of Liquid Explosives

4. Potential Transformation of Chlorate to Perchlorate and Visa-Versa 

During Explosion

5. Research and Evaluation of Storage Conditions for Archiving 

Extracts from Fire Debris Samples

6. Source Attribution for Ignitable Liquids from Fire Debris

7. Source Attribution for Post-Blast Residues

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Geological Materials

1. Assessing Heterogeneity of Soils

2. Assessing the Suitability of Existing Resources from the 

Geology and Soil Science Communities to Supplement 

Forensic Geology Interpretations of Soil Mineralogy (XRD 

and/or PLM)

3. Sample Size Limit for Visual Soil Color Determination

4. Suitability of Color Contract Classes for Forensic Soil 

Comparisons

5. Surficial Distribution of Airborne Particles from Point 

Sources

6. Transfer and Persistence of Soils

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Materials (Trace)

1. Assessment of Criteria for Meaningful Differences in Trace Materials 

Comparative Data

2. Assessment of the value of activity level factors during investigative 

processes and interpretation of glass evidence

3. Cross-validation of current and new micro-XRF technology for the the forensic analysis of modern glass

4. Development of an Integrated and Multidisciplinary Approach for the 

Advancement of Data Collection, Data Management and Data Analysis to Aid 

Interpretation of Trace Evidence

5. Development of Quantitative Assessment and Evaluation of Error Rates in 

Physical Fit Determinations of Trace Materials

6. Evidence of Combined Information Value of Microscopic Comparisons and 

Mitochondrial DNA Analysis for Hair Examinations

7. Validation of the Suitability of Standard Practice for Interpretation and 

Report Writing in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
SAC ‘Mission’

Review and Approve

Provide Guidance and Direction

Coordinate overlapping activities

Raise Awareness / Implementation

Research and Development Needs Identified

Gunshot Residue

1. Prevalence of Characteristics and Consistent Particles

2. Comprehensive Feasibility of Organic Gunshot 

Residue Analysis

3. Comprehensive GSR Persistence Study

4. Development of Characterized Reference Stubs

5. Fundamental Research into Mechanism of Particle 

Formation

6. Specific Identification of Shooters

https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/osac-research-development-needs
Thank you – almirall@fiu.edu

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