Standard for Consultation 

During Friction Ridge 

Examination

Friction Ridge Subcommittee

Physics/Pattern Scientific Area Committee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science
ii

Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

OSAC Proposed Standard

Standard for Consultation During 

Friction Ridge Examination

Prepared by

Friction Ridge Subcommittee

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science

Version: 1.0

January 2020

Disclaimer:

This document has been developed by the Friction Ridge Subcommittee of the Organization of 

Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science through a consensus process and 

proposed for further development through a Standard Developing Organization (SDO). This 

document is being made available so that the forensic science community and interested parties 

can consider the recommendations of the OSAC pertaining to applicable forensic science 

practices. The document was developed with input from experts in a broad array of forensic 

science disciplines as well as scientific research, measurement science, statistics, law, and policy.

This document has not been published by a SDO. Its contents are subject to change during the 

standards development process. All stakeholder groups or individuals are strongly encouraged to 

submit comments on this proposed document during the open comment period administered by 

the Academy Standards Board (ASB). 
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Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1

2. Scope ................................................................................................................................. 1

3. Terms and Definitions..................................................................................................... 1

4. General Requirements .................................................................................................... 1

5. Appendix A: Change Log................................................................................................ 3
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Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

1. Introduction

1.1. This document has been developed with the objective of improving the quality and 

consistency of friction ridge examination practices.

1.2. As in any scientific endeavor, an examiner may need to interact with another analyst 

regarding an examination. This is generally referred to as a “consultation”. 

1.3. Consultations are an inherent part of the scientific process. Consultations should be 

supported as part of normal business practices and shall be documented. Consultations 

may occur at any stage of the examination process. 

1.4. Consultation consists of varying levels of discussion between examiners. While not all 

discussions rise to the level of a consultation that requires documentation, any discussion 

that relates to the evidence in a specific case should be documented.

1.5. In this document, the following verbal forms are used: “shall” indicates a requirement, 

“should” indicates a recommendation; “may” indicates permission; and “can” indicates a 

possibility or capability. 

2. Scope

2.1. This document prescribes the minimum requirements for examiners when consulting 

with one another during the examination of friction ridge impressions, as well as related 

documentation requirements for examination notes and reports. 

2.2. This document does not apply to conflict resolution.

3. Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1. Conflict: A condition in which two or more examiners disagree on a suitability decision 

or source conclusion.

3.2. Case Record: The file (electronic or hard copy) in which all documentation and case 

relevant information is kept and maintained.

3.3. Forensic Service Provider (FSP): A forensic science entity or forensic science 

practitioner providing forensic science services.

4. General Requirements

4.1. A consultation can occur after the examiner has recorded their preliminary observations 

in the case record. To avoid any potential bias from the examiner, these observations 

shall not be provided to the consultant until they have completed their observations.
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Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

4.2. At a minimum, the following examples of situations in which interactions occur, shall be 

documented:

4.2.1. Assessment of the utility of the friction ridge impression for comparison value.

4.2.2. Assessment of a friction ridge sample for AFIS search.

4.2.3. Presence or absence of specific friction ridge features during the analysis or 

comparison.

4.2.4. Simultaneity of impressions, per FSP policy.

4.2.5. When an examination is complex, per FSP policy.

4.3. At a minimum, the following are a non-exhaustive list in which interactions occur, that 

should be documented:

4.3.1. Assessment of orientation or anatomical position (region of interest).

4.3.2. Presence of friction ridge distortion resulting from deposition pressure, substrate, 

matrix.

4.3.3. AFIS parameter selection such as search orientation, pattern type, and 

demographic filtering.

4.3.4. Factors that affect image quality such as contrast, focus, camera angle/position, 

noise, image artifacts.

4.3.5. Distinctive friction ridge features used for comparison efficiency such as target 

groups, anchor points, etc.

4.3.6. Latent print detection and development technique(s).

4.4. A consultant who has viewed both known and unknown friction ridge samples shall not 

be used as the verifier for that examination.

4.5. Consultations shall be documented in the case record (e.g., analyst bench notes, a 

laboratory information management system).

4.6. The documentation for a consultation shall include the following:

4.6.1. Specific friction ridge impression(s) reviewed.

4.6.2. The topic and result of the consultation.
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Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

4.6.3. Initials, signature, or equivalent (e.g., unique identifier) for the examiners 

involved.

4.6.4. Date(s) of the consultation.

4.7. Each consultant involved in a consultation shall document their findings independently 

of the original examiner, including the markups of the friction ridge sample.

4.8. Depending on the nature and extent of the consultation, the consultant may satisfy the 

above minimum documentation requirements by including the information within the 

notes of the initial analyst. In consultations involving complex examinations, a separate 

set of notes, annotations, or images (e.g. screenshots) generated by the consultant shall 

be included. 

4.9. If there is doubt whether a discussion has risen to the level requiring documentation, it 

should be documented.

5. Appendix A: Change Log

Version Date Change

1.0 01/17/2020 Original Issue