OSAC Standards Bulletin – September 2019 1

 

 September 2019 

Bulletin Summary 

This Bulletin provides an update on forensic science standards that are moving through the Registry Approval Process at 

the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) and those that are moving through the 

development process at standards developing organizations (SDOs).

New Standards Placed on the OSAC Registry: Two (2) documents

OSAC Registry Standards Open for Comment: Three (3) documents

SDO Documents Open for Comment: Twelve (12) documents

Please consider providing comments on documents that are open for comment.

 

The OSAC Registry serves as a trusted repository of high-quality, science-based standards and guidelines for forensic

science practice. A document included on the Registry has progressed through the formal SDO process and has been 

published as a standard. OSAC elevates standards to the OSAC Registry as an endorsement of the document’s high 

quality and to encourage its adoption by relevant stakeholders in the forensic science community.

New Documents on the OSAC Registry 

OSAC is excited to announce the following two standards have been placed on the OSAC Registry:

ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 007, Postmortem Impression Submission Strategy for Comprehensive 

Searches of Essential Automated Fingerprint Identification System Databases, First Edition, 2018 (Disaster 

Victim Identification Subcommittee; effective September 5, 2019)
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ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 010, Forensic Anthropology in Disaster Victim Identification: Best 

Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority, First Edition, 2018 (Disaster Victim Identification

Subcommittee; effective September 5, 2019)

 

Intent to Add to the OSAC Registry – Items Open for Comment 

OSAC is currently seeking feedback on whether the following standards should be included on the OSAC Registry:

• ASTM E3115-17 Standard Guide for Capturing Facial Images for Use with Facial Recognition Systems. Submit 

your comments by 11:59 PM ET on September 5, 2019. 

• ASTM E3148-18 Standard Guide for Postmortem Facial Image Capture. Submit your comments by 11:59 PM on 

September 5, 2019.

• ISO 21043-2 Forensic Sciences – Part 2: Recognition, recording, collecting, transport and storage of items. 

Submit your comments by 11:59 PM ET on October 4, 2019. To view the document, please follow the 

instructions in the comment link.

Standards Moving through the OSAC Registry Approval Process 

The following standards have moved from one step in the OSAC Registry Approval Process to another during the last 

month: 

Documents in Comment Adjudication Phase:

• ASB Technical Report 025, Crime Scene Death Investigation – Dogs and Sensors – Terms and Definitions, First 

Edition, 2017

Documents at FSSB for Vote for Placement on the Registry:

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

First Edition, 2019

• ASTM E2917-19a Standard Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and 

Professional Development Programs

For a list of standards currently under consideration, please visit the OSAC website. 

If your organization is on the “tip of the spear” and has already embraced the Registry implementation efforts, let us 

know! Please email mark.stolorow@nist.gov to share what Registry Standards your organization has implemented. 

SDO News 

 

New or Revised Standards 

ASTM International (developed by Committee E30.01)

• ASTM E2882 Standard Guide for Analysis of Clandestine Drug Laboratory Evidence has been revised to E2882-19.

 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – September 2019 3

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ASB):

• Re-circulation* – ASB 053, Standard for Report Content in Forensic Toxicology. This new document sets 

minimum content requirements for forensic toxicology reports and defines the critical elements of the report, 

explains acceptable reporting language, and provides instructions on issuing supplemental or amended reports. 

Comments due September 16, 2019.

• Recirculation* – ASB 099, Standard Footwear/Tire Examination Proficiency Testing Program. This document 

outlines the requirements for proficiency test providers and footwear and tire examiners for creating proficiency 

tests appropriate for use by a footwear and tire examiner. Comments due September 16, 2019.

• Recirculation* – ASB 032, Standards for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program. This document 

provides minimum pre-training educational requirements for an individual currently in, or entering, a bloodstain 

pattern analyst training program and the minimum training requirements that a trainee must successfully 

complete prior to practicing as a bloodstain pattern analyst. Comments due September 23, 2019.

• ASB 023, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods. This document provides 

requirements to ensure proper training in the methods of DNA isolation and purification used within the 

trainee’s forensic DNA laboratory. Comments due September 30, 2019.

• ASB 115, Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, DNA 

Separation, and Allele Detection. This document provides the requirements of a forensic DNA laboratory’s 

training program in forensic short tandem repeats (STR) typing methods using amplification, DNA separation 

and allele detection. Comments due September 30, 2019.

• ASB 116, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods. This document provides the 

requirements for a forensic DNA laboratory’s training program in DNA quantification. Comments due 

September 30, 2019.

• ASB 030, Standard for a Quality Assurance Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. This document provides 

requirements for establishing and maintaining a documented quality assurance program in bloodstain pattern 

analysis to forensic service providers. Comments due October 7, 2019.

• Recirculation* – ASB 038, Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods. This document 

details the general requirements for performing an internal validation of all forensic DNA analysis methods 

within a forensic DNA laboratory. Comments due October 14, 2019. 

• ASB 077, Standard for the Developmental and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods. This 

document provides requirements for developmental and internal validations of forensic serological methods to 

evaluate body fluids, stains, or residues related to forensic investigations. Comments due October 14, 2019.

• Recirculation* – ASB 089, Best Practice Recommendation for Facial Approximation in Forensic Anthropology. 

This document provides guidance for facial approximation from skeletal remains. Comments due October 14, 

2019.

• ASB 105, Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Trainees. This document 

provides the minimum education requirements for forensic laboratory applicants and employees entering a 

training program in firearm and toolmark examination. Comments due October 14, 2019. 

For the ASB documents listed above, please download the comment template and return it to asb@aafs.org by the 

comment deadline. 

*Please note that comments on a re-circulation will only be accepted on revised sections of a document, comments 

made to text not revised from the original comment period will not be accepted.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – September 2019 4

ASTM: 

• WK69622 – New Practice for Standard Practice for Report Writing of Forensic Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) 

Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Comments due 

11:59 PM ET on September 29, 2019.

Other News 

OSAC’s Crime Scene Investigation Subcommittee and ASTM are working together to 

propose a new standard for crime scene investigator training, continuing education, 

professional development, certification, and accreditation.

Save the date for the NIST and NIJ Evidence Management Conference on 

October 2-4 on the NIST Gaithersburg campus. There is no fee for this 

event, but all attendees must be pre-registered to gain entry to the NIST 

campus. Be sure to register by September 25!