OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2019 1

 

 August 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: No new documents

OSAC Registry Standards Open for Comment: Two (2) documents

SDO Documents Open for Comment: Five (5) 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.

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.
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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

• 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

Documents at FSSB for Vote:

• ANASI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 007, Post Mortem Impression Submission Strategy for 

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

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 010, Forensic Anthropology in Disaster Victim Identification: Best 

Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority, First Edition, 2019

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 

American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ASB):

• ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, First Edition, 2019

• ASB Technical Report 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence, First Edition, 2019

ASTM International (developed by Committee E30.01)

• ASTM E1413 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic 

Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube has been revised (with title change) to E1413-19.

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

Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube is a new standard.

• ASTM E2224 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy has been revised to E2224-

19.

• ASTM E2228 Standard Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers has been revised to E2228-19.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2019 3

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ASB):

• ASB Standard 061, Firearms and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control, First 

Edition. This new standard provides requirements for the measurements systems (the instruments and included 

scan acquisition software) which capture data beyond a flat 2D photographic image for Firearm and Toolmark 

Analysis. This document also provides requirements to ensure the instrument’s accuracy, conduct instrument 

calibration, and estimate measurement uncertainty for each axis (X, Y, and Z). Comment deadline is August 26, 

2019.

• ASB Standard 062, Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis, First 

Edition. This new standard specifies the minimum requirements for computer software intended to compare 2D 

and/or 3D digital representations of toolmarks. It covers necessary conditions for consistent and interpretable 

comparisons. Comment deadline is August 26, 2019.

• ASB Standard 063, Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Comparison 

Laboratories, First Edition. This new standard provides requirements for the proper implementation of 3D 

technologies (software and/or hardware)/technical procedure(s) required in a forensic toolmark laboratory. This 

standard also includes requirements for setting up the physical environment for the instrumentation as well as 

requirements for instrument calibration and validation. Comment deadline is August 26, 2019.

• Re-circulation* – ASB Standard 088, General Guidelines for Training, Certification, and Documentation of Canine 

Detection Disciplines, First Edition. This new standard contains requirements for the development of training of 

canine handlers and canines and will also detail the canine team assessments and the basis for certification 

procedures including record keeping and document management. This standard does not cover discipline 

specific guidelines. Comment deadline is August 26, 2019.

• Re-circulation* – ASB Standard 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. 

Comment deadline is September 16, 2019.

For the ASB documents listed above, please send your comments by the deadline to asb@aafs.org (with optional copy to 

psa@ansi.org). Please visit the Notification of Standards Development and Coordination section of the ASB website for 

the documents, comment template, and additional information.

*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.

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards 

ASB:

• On August 2, 2019, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on pages 91-92 in the ANSI 

Standards Action. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of ASB’s work on the 

following documents:

o BSR/ASB BPR 114-201x, Best Practice Recommendation for Validation of Forensic DNA Software. This 

new document includes recommendations specific for the validation of software used in forensic DNA 

laboratories that impacts the integrity of the evidence, the analytical process, interpretations, and/or 

statistical conclusions.

o BSR/ASB Std 123-201x, Standard for Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Mixture Interpretation 

Protocol. This new standard provides the requirements for laboratories to evaluate the consistent 

application of their DNA mixture interpretation protocol. This intra-laboratory evaluation assesses 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2019 4

whether the DNA interpretation protocol can be consistently applied to produce reliable and 

reproducible interpretations and conclusions. This standard applies to capillary-electrophoresis based 

STR DNA testing technology and methodology currently used by the laboratory where mixtures of DNA 

may be encountered, analyzed, and interpreted.

o BSR/ASB Std 125-201x, Organizational and Foundational Standard for Medicolegal Death Investigation. 

This new document outlines the minimal requirements, fundamental activities, general procedures, 

facilities, and personnel that are the basic components of a medicolegal death investigation system. This 

document provides an overarching description of educational frameworks, operational roles, and 

processes for the medicolegal death investigation system.

o BSR/ASB BPR 126-201x, Best Practice Recommendation for Casting of Footwear and Tire Impression 

Evidence. This new document sets forth best practices for casting of footwear and tire-impression 

evidence. The document will provide stakeholders an overview of best practice methods which ideally 

should be followed. The document can be a guide to forensic science trainees and their trainers and 

should also provide attorneys and the trier of fact a baseline on how to judge the methods of collection 

of footwear and tire evidence.

Other News 

The video and presentations from the 2019 OSAC Public Update and Discussions 

Meeting are now available! 

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.

NIST Releases New PCR-Based DNA Profiling Standard – Read the Q&A with Becky 

Steffen, a forensic scientist at NIST.

Save the date for the NIST and NIJ Evidence Management Conference

on October 2-4 on the NIST Gaithersburg campus.