OSAC Standards Bulletin 1 December 2018

BULLETIN SUMMARY

This Bulletin provides an update on forensic science standards that are moving through the development 

process at standards developing organizations (SDOs), and those that are moving through the Registry 

Approval Process at the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC). 

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

OSAC Registry Standards open for comment: 0 Items

SDO Documents open for comment: 7 Items

OSAC REGISTRY NEWS

 

Standards Moving Through the OSAC Registry Approval Process 

This section only lists standards that moved from one step in the OSAC Registry Approval Process to another 

during the last month. A list of all standards currently under consideration is available on the OSAC website.

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

First Edition, 2018 moved to the Standards in Comment Adjudication. 

ADA 1058-2010D Forensic Dental Data Set moved to Standards at FSSB for a vote.

ADA 1088-2017D Human Identification by Comparative Dental Analysis moved to Standards at FSSB 

for a vote.

ASTM E3149-18 Standard Guide for Facial Image Comparison Feature List for Morphological Analysis

moved to Standards at FSSB for a vote.

OSAC Draft Standards Submitted to Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) 

OSAC developed the following draft standards and has submitted them to SDOs for formal development:

Biological Methods Subcommittee

The following draft standards were submitted to American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 

Academy Standards Board (ASB):

o Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods

o Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods

o Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, 

DNA Separation, and Allele Detection

OSAC Standards Bulletin

December 2018
OSAC Standards Bulletin 2 December 2018

Fire Debris and Explosives Subcommittee

The following draft standards were submitted to ASTM International E30.01:

o WK56998 – Proposed New Standard: “Standard Terminology Relating to the Examination of 

Explosives”

o WK63459 – Proposed New Standard: “Standard Terminology Relating to the Examination of Fire 

Debris”

o WK51929 – Revision of ASTM E1412-16: “Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid 

Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal”

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATION (SDO) NEWS

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB): 

ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practices for the Preparation of Test Impressions from 

Footwear and Tires, First Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

Comment Resolution

Redline Document

Re-Circulation* – ASB Standard 035, Standard for the Examination of Documents for Alterations, First 

Edition (Comment Deadline, January 21, 2019)

Comment Resolution

Redline Document

ASB Standard 054, Standard for a Quality Control Program in Forensic Toxicology Laboratories, First 

Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

ASB Standard 088, General Guidelines for Training, Certification, and Documentation of Canine 

Detection Disciplines, First Edition (Comment Deadline, December 24, 2018)

ASB Best Practice Recommendation 089, Best Practice Recommendation for Facial Approximation in 

Forensic Anthropology, First Edition (Comment Deadline, January 21, 2019)

ASB Standard 090, Standard for Sex Assessment in Forensic Anthropology, First Edition (Comment 

Deadline, January 28, 2019)

ASB Standard 106, Wildlife Forensics-Protein Serology Method for Taxonomic Identification, First 

Edition (Comment Deadline, January 21, 2019)

* 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 public comment period will not be 

accepted.

Please visit the Notification of Standard Development and Coordination area of the AAFS Standards 

Board website to view the draft document and to provide comments. Please send any questions 

to asb@aafs.org.

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Standards Board (ASB):
OSAC Standards Bulletin 3 December 2018

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 18, in ANSI Standards Action on 

December 14, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s 

work on the documents listed below: 

BSR/ASB Std 110-201x, Standard for Training in Forensic Serological Methods (new standard). 

This standard provides the requirements for a forensic serology training program to evaluate 

body fluids, stains, or residues related to forensic investigations. This standard does not 

address training in forensic DNA analysis procedures.

New or Revised Standards

ASTM International E30.12

E2916 - 18 Standard Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence Examination has been revised.

OTHER NEWS

Research Needs Identified by OSAC Digital Evidence Subcommittee

• Mobile Application Triage Tool

• De-Duplication of Digital Forensics Artifacts from Disparate Sources or Tools

• Internet of Things, User Artifacts

• Digital Forensics Tool to Support Virtual Machines and Virtual File Systems

United Kingdom Forensic Science Regulator (UKFSR)

The Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) in consultation with key stakeholder groups has developed drafts on 

the following documents.

• Forensic medical examination: assessment, collection and recording of forensic evidence

• Forensic medical exam standard for sexual assault complainants