OSAC Standards Bulletin 1 May 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: 2 Items

SDO Documents open for comment: 3 Items

OSAC REGISTRY NEWS

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

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

Read the standard or submit a comment by May 9, 2018, 11:59pm EDT. 

ASTM E2937-18, Standard Guide for Using Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Paint Examinations

Read the standard or submit a comment by May 9, 2018, 11:59pm EDT. 

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.

ASTM E2927-16 Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass 

Samples Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Forensic

Comparisons moved to Standards in the Appeals Phase.

OSAC Draft Standards Submitted to Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) 

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

Firearms and Toolmarks

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

Academy Standards Board (ASB): 

• Best Practice Recommendations for the Safe Handling of Firearms and Ammunition

OSAC Standards Bulletin

May 2018
OSAC Standards Bulletin 2 May 2018

STANDARDS DEVELOPING ORGANIZATION (SDO) NEWS

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents

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

ASB Standard 019, Wildlife Forensics General Standards, First Edition (Comment deadline: May 14, 

2018)

ASB Standard 029, Report Writing in Wildlife Forensics, First Edition (Comment deadline: May 14, 

2018)

ASB Standard 035, Standard for the Examination of Documents for Alterations, First Edition (Comment 

deadline: May 14, 2018)

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

Board website to view the comment resolutions from the initial public comment periods, the updated 

documents, and redline versions of the documents. The comment template can also be downloaded from the 

website. Please send any questions to asb@aafs.org.

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

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

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) were published on page 114, in ANSI Standards Action on 

April 20, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s work on 

the document listed below: 

BSR/ASB Std 069-201x, Test Method for Measuring Barrel and Overall Length of Firearms (new 

standard) Provide a standard for the measuring of barrel and overall lengths of firearms by a 

forensic firearm and toolmark examiner. 

• Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) were published on page 14, in ANSI Standards Action on 

April 27, 2018. This will begin a 30-day period for public comment on the initiation of the ASB’s work on 

the document listed below: 

BSR/ASB BPR 087-201x, Pest and Insect Canine Detection (new standard) This document 

provides requirements for training, certifying, and documenting the performance of pest/insect 

detector canines.

BSR/ASB Std 032-201x, Standards for Minimum Training and Education Requirements for 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (new standard) This document provides educational requirements 

for an individual currently in, or entering into, a bloodstain pattern analyst training program and 

the minimum training requirements that a trainee must successfully complete to become a 

qualified analyst. 

BSR/ASB Std 075-201x, Human Remains Detection in Water (new standard) To state 

requirements for the training, certification, and documentation pertaining to canine teams trained 

to search for human remains in water. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin 3 May 2018

BSR/ASB Std 081-201x, Standard for Training in the Use of Statistics in Interpretation of 

Forensic DNA Evidence (new standard) This standard defines the minimum requirements that 

shall be met in a training program for the use of statistical methods approved within the 

laboratory for interpretation of forensic DNA evidence. 

BSR/ASB Std 085-20 1x, Detection Canine Selection, Kenneling and Healthcare (new standard) 

This standard covers requirements for the selection, kenneling and healthcare pertaining to 

detection canines. It does not include training methodology standards. 

Revised Standards

This revised standard is eligible for consideration by the OSAC:

ASTM International E30.12 Digital Evidence & Multimedia:

ASTM E2825 – 18 Standard Guide for Forensic Digital Image Processing

OTHER NEWS

Research Needs Identified by OSAC Toxicology Subcommittee

• Data Analytics in Forensic Toxicology

• The Role and Impact of Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics in Forensic Toxicology

ASTM Standards Access 

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science through the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) has an existing contract with ASTM International that gives 30,000 public 

criminal justice agencies free access to standards published under ASTM Technical Committee E30 on 

Forensic Science. This agreement applies to the following stakeholder groups:

• OSAC Members & Affiliates – approximately 750 individuals

• NIST and Federal/State/Local Crime Laboratories – approximately 412 laboratories

• Public Defenders Offices – approximately 6,000 offices

• Law Enforcement Agencies – approximately 18,000 offices

• Prosecutor Offices – approximately 3,000 offices

• Medical Examiner/Coroners Offices – approximately 3,000 offices