THE EXPANDING SCOPE OF STANDARDS & BEST 

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FORENSIC 

TESTING LABORATORIES USING HUMAN 

SEROLOGICAL AND DNA TESTING METHODS

Charlotte J Word, PhD 

Burlington, VT 

July 25, 2023
STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 

Biology/DNA SAC

• Methodology 

• Biology Data Interpretation and 

Reporting

Human Forensic Biology (now combined)

• Wildlife (sequencing)

Draft Documents Standard Development

AAFS ASB DNA Consensus Body 

for Standard Development as 

American National Standards

OSAC Proposed Standards 
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 

Approved by ANSI and published by the ASB: 

https://www.aafs.org/academy-standards-board

OSAC Registry https://www.nist.gov/organization-scientific-areacommittees-forensic-science/osac-registry

Standard = Lists Requirements with “shall”

Best Practice Recommendations (BPR) = Lists Recommendations with “should” 
STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 

5 OSAC Proposed Standards

(at ASB for development)

1 To be Published very soon 

35 Drafted 

9 Being Drafted

14 Published

3 Very Soon 

2 in OSAC Registry Process
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

USE IN LABORATORIES 

Written to be used in conjunction with other documents 

• FBI Quality Assurance Standards 

• ISO 17025

• Accreditation Requirements (e.g., ANAB)

• SWGDAM Guidelines
AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 

LABORATORIES

SEROLOGY/BIOLOGY

Validation Studies and Protocols

1) ANSI/ASB Standard 077, Standard for the Development and Internal Validation of Forensic 

Serological Methods, First Edition, 2020

2) OSAC 2021-S-0028, Standard for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with 

Forensic Investigations (currently under development with ASB DNA Consensus Body)

Training

1) ANSI/ASB Standard 110, Standard for Training in Forensic Serological Methods, 

First Edition, 2020
AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 

LABORATORIES

DNA 

Validation Studies and Protocols 

1) ANSI/ASB Standard 018, Standard for Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems, First 

Edition, 2020*

2) ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and 

Development and Verification of a Laboratory’s Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First 

Edition, 2018* (5 year anniversary)

3) ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison 

Protocols, First Edition, 2019*

4) ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 114, Best Practice Recommendations for 

Internal Validation of Software Used in Forensic DNA Laboratories, First Edition, 2022 (in 

OSAC Registry approval process)

5) ANSI/ASB Standard 038, Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis 

Methods, First Edition, 2020
AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 

LABORATORIES

DNA

Validation Studies and Protocols 

1) OSAC 2020-N-0007, Best Practice Recommendations for the Management and Use of 

Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis (Best Practice 

Recommendation 171 with ASB) (in final stages for publication as an ANSI/ASB BPR)

2) OSAC 2020-S-0004, Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test 

Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events (Standard 175 with 

ASB) (currently under development with ASB DNA Consensus Body)

3) OSAC 2021-S-0029, Standard for Familial DNA Searching (currently under development 

with ASB DNA Consensus Body)
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 

UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY ASB

DNA

Validation Studies 

1) Standard 039, Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on 

Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms

2) Best Practice Recommendation 129, Best Practice Recommendations for Internal 

Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms
AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 

LABORATORIES

DNA

Training - General & STRs

1) ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, First Edition, 

2019

2) ANSI/ASB Standard 023, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification 

Methods, First Edition, 2020

3) ANSI/ASB Standard 116, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods, First 

Edition, 2020

4) ANSI/ASB Standard 115, Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods 

using Amplification, DNA Separation, and Allele Detection, First Edition, 2020
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 

UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY ASB

DNA

Training – General and STRs

1) Standard 154, Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology (soon to be published, will 

need to be submitted to OSAC Registry)

2) Standard 091, Standard for Training in Analysis of Forensic Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Data

3) Standard 078, Standard for Training in Forensic Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (STR) and YSTR Data Interpretation and Comparison

4) Standard 081, Standard for Training in the Use of Statistics in Interpretation of Forensic DNA 

Evidence

5) Standard 080, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Reporting and Review

6) Standard 079, Standard for Training in the Use of Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 

LABORATORIES

DNA

Training – Sequencing Methods

1) ANSI/ASB Standard 130, Standard for Training in Forensic Amplification Methods for Subsequent 

Capillary Electrophoresis Sequencing, First Edition, 2021

2) ANSI/ASB Standard 131, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Sequencing Using Capillary 

Electrophoresis, First Edition, 2021

3) ANSI/ASB Standard 140, Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, 

Interpretation, Comparison, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting, First Edition, 2021
DNA

Contamination, Statistics, Quality Control

1) Standard 041, Formulating Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations

2) Standard 123, Standard for Routine Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Interpretation 

and Comparison Protocol (soon to be published, will need to be submitted to OSAC Registry)

3) Standard 136, Forensic Laboratory Standard for Prevention, Monitoring, and Mitigation of 

Human DNA Contamination

4) Standard 139, Reporting DNA Conclusions (very close to being published)

STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 

UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY ASB 
IMPLEMENTATION IN LABORATORIES
IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS 22, 20 & 40 

AUGUST 2021

155 Respondents
IMPLEMENTATION IN LABORATORIES 2022
IMPLEMENTATION IN LABORATORIES 2022

177 Respondents

128 Implementing Standards

66 have Biology/DNA
1) OSAC 2021-S-0003, Standards for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Applications 

to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms

2) OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony

STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS 

UNDER REVIEW FOR LISTING ON THE OSAC REGISTRY AS 

PROPOSED STANDARDS
Validation

•Standard for Internal Validation of Genetic Analysis on NGS/MPS Platforms 

•Standard for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods 

•Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods 

•Standard for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification

•Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification 

•Standard for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms 

•Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms 

•Best Practice Workflows for Efficient Sampling and Direct to DNA of Sexual Assault Kits

•Appendix Exemplar for Reports

DOCUMENTS CURRENTLY BEING DRAFTED AT OSAC
RESOURCES AVAILABLE 
STANDARDS CHECKLISTS

https://www.aafs.org/research-insights-featured-standards-resources-andtraining/checklists

Checklists provide a tool to allow a forensic science 

service provider to evaluate the level of standard 

implementation and/or audit conformance to a 

standard. Each checklist, provided in Excel, uses a 

standardized format that also allows flexibility when 

used.
Assessment Guide for ANSI/ASB Standard 040,

Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison 

Protocols, First Edition, 2019

INTRODUCTION

This Assessment Guide is to be used by laboratory staff for self-assessment or 

by an assessment team for evaluating whether the laboratory has met the 

Requirements listed in Section 4 of the ANSB/ASB Standard 040, Standard for 

Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019. 

STANDARD 040 ASSESSMENT GUIDE

https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2022/07/19/ASB%

2040%20Assessment%20Guide%20032222.pdf

Provides Detailed Instructions and an Excel Worksheet for Documenting the Assessment 

Process 
FACTSHEETS

The AAFS Standards Factsheets provide a 

concise summary of each standard and 

facilitate broader understanding. 

They also highlight the purpose of a standard, 

why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption.

https://www.aafs.org/research-insightsfeatured/search?_page=1&keywords=factsheets

&_limit=7&topic=66
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2022/05/05/OSAC%20Forensic%20Biology%

20Process%20Map_5.5.22.pdf

OSAC FORENSIC BIOLOGY PROCESS MAP 
https://www.promega.com/resources/webinars/#q=forensic%2

0DNA%20standards&sort=%40webinarstartdate%20ascending

DNA Standards and Best Practices Developed by OSAC and ASB 

Part 1: The Process

Part 2: Mixture Interpretation Validation, and Protocol 

Development and Verification (Standards 20 & 40)

Part 3: Training Standards Overview (Standards 22 & 23)

Part 4: ANSI/ASB Standard 018, Standard for Validation of 

Probabilistic Genotyping Systems

PROMEGA ARCHIVED WEBINAR SERIES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

https://www.aafs.org/academy-standards-board/informationeducation
1) Join OSAC Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee to draft new standards 

(https://www.nist.gov/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensicscience/apply-join-osac)

2) Attend meetings and join ASB DNA Consensus Body to develop standards and assist 

with the revisions at the 5 year anniversary (https://www.aafs.org/academystandards-board/calendar) 

3) Review documents during Public Comment Period at ASB and OSAC and suggest 

revisions (https://www.aafs.org/academy-standards-board; 

https://www.nist.gov/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensicscience/standards-open-comment)

4) Implement Standards in your laboratory (https://www.nist.gov/organizationscientific-area-committees-forensic-science/osac-registry-implementation)

HOW TO GET INVOLVED 
Brian Adams

Rob Allen

Tabitha Bandy

Bicka Barlow

Howard Baum

Jason Befus

Susan Berdine

Todd Bille

Charles Brenner

Lisa Brewer

Tebah Browne

Ryan Buchanan

John Buckleton

Eric Buel

Jason Bundy

Lynn Burley

John Butler

Tom Callaghan

Kris Cano

Amber Carr 

Jessica Charak

Jessica Cino

Michael Coble

Jillian Conte

Jerilyn Conway

Kathleen Corrado

Robin Cotton

Heather Coyle

James Curran

Angelo Della Manna

Phil Danielson

Marsha Deitz

Julie Demarest

Mary Jones Dukes

Lisa Dziegiekewski

Debbie Epstein

Seth Faith

Erin Forry

Julie French

Jennifer Friedman

Susan Friedman

Kristen Fripp

Bill Gartside

Peter Gill

Simone Gittelson

Debra Glidewell

Jessica Goldthwaite

Susan Greenspoon

Catherine Grgicak 

Kyra Groeblinghoft

Ann Marie Gross

George Herrin

Brian Higgins

Jennifer Honkanen

Susan Horan

Nicholas Hughes

Amy Jeanguenat

Malena Jimenez

Joanna Johnson

Kristine Kadash 

Tim Kalafut

Rebekah Kay

Marla Kaplan

Susannah Kehl

Jarrah Kennedy

Phil Kinsey 

Jody Koehler

Melissa Kotkin

Melissa Lavigne

Eugene Lien

Amy Lee

Steve Lee

Sarah Lewis

Chris Lindberg

Mark Loudon-Brown

Desmond Lun

Michael Marciano

Bruce McCord

Stacy McDonald

Amy McGuckian

Heather McKiernan

Andrew McWhorter

Amber Moss

Bonnie Mountain

Shawn Montpetit

Kim Murga

Steven Myers

Jennifer Naugle

Craig Nolde

Jeff Nye

Craig O’Conor

Robert Sean Oliver

Beth Ordeman

Christopher Piwonka

Daniele Podini

Mechthild Prinz

Robyn Ragsdale

Margaret Sanger

Kristin Schelling

Nadja Schreiber Campo

Melissa Schwandt

Peg Schwartz

Taylor Scott

Garrett Sigimoto

Rachel Singer

Christie Smith

Janel Smith

Carl Sobieralski

Melisa Staples

Melissa Suddeth

Joel Sutton

Jane Taupin

Caitlyn Taveira

Pete Vallone

Susan Walsh 

Amy Watroba

Bruce Weir

Steven Weitz

Susan Welti

Christian Westring

Charlotte Word

Darren Wright

Elisa Wurmbach

Brian Young

Tim Zolandz 

Sandy Zabell

Caroline Zervos

Erika Ziemak

Candy Zuleger

THANK YOU!!!

Funding for the factsheets, checklists and partial funding for this presentation are made possible through the following financial 

assistance award 70NANB21H097 awarded to AAFS from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Contact Information

Charlotte J Word, PhD 

cjword@comcast.net