OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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 August 2020

This Standards Bulletin from the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic 

Science provides an update on:

• Standards moving through the OSAC Registry approval process.

• Standards moving through the development process at standards developing 

organizations (SDOs).

New standards placed on the OSAC Registry: 0

OSAC Registry documents open for comment: 6

SDO documents open for comment: 7

OSAC REGISTRY UPDATES

The OSAC Registry serves as a repository of scientifically sound forensic 

science standards that address discipline-specific forensic science needs. OSAC 

elevates standards to the OSAC Registry as an endorsement of the document’s 

high quality and to encourage its use by relevant stakeholders in the forensic 

science community.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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

The following SDO published standards are being considered for the OSAC Registry. Please 

submit your comments by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 4, 2020 on whether they should be 

included on the OSAC Registry:

• ASTM E1388-17 Standard Practice for Static Headspace Sampling of Vapors from Fire 

Debris Samples. Submit your comments here.

• ASTM E1412-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire 

Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Activated Charcoal. Submit 

your comments here. 

• ASTM E1413-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire 

Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube. Submit 

your comments here. 

• ASTM E3189-19 Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire 

Debris Samples by Static Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube. Submit 

your comments here.

The following “OSAC Proposed Standards” are being considered for the OSAC Registry. Submit 

your comments/suggestions on the wording included in these draft standards and indicate 

whether they should be included on the OSAC Registry. To submit your feedback, download 

and complete the OSAC comment template found on the Standards Open for Comment

webpage and send it to forensics@nist.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 4, 2020.

• Standard for Qualifications in the Practice of Forensic Anthropology.

• Best Practice Recommendations for the Management and Use of Quality Assurance DNA 

Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis.

In the Comment Adjudication Phase

• ANSI/ASB Standard 019, Wildlife Forensics General Standards, First Edition, 2019. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 029, Report Writing in Wildlife Forensics: Morphology and Genetics, 

First Edition, 2019.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 030, Standard for a Quality Assurance Program in Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis, First Edition, 2019. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 045, Standard for Stature Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, First 

Edition, 2019. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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• ANSI/ASB Standard 046, Wildlife Forensics Validation Standards – STR Analysis, First 

Edition, 2019.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 048, Wildlife Forensics DNA Standard Procedures, First Edition, 2019. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 072, Standard for the Validation of Procedures in Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis, First Edition, 2019. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 090, Standard for Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, First 

Edition, 2019.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 106, Wildlife Forensics – Protein Serology Methods for Taxonomic 

Identification, First Edition, 2020. 

• ASTM E3233-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program. 

• ASTM E3234-20 Standard Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program. 

At FSSB for Vote

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

Edition, 2019. 

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

SDO UPDATES

Published

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board (ASB) has 

recently published two new documents:

• ANSI/ASB Standard 018, Standard for Validation of Probabilistic 

Genotyping Systems, First Edition, 2020. This standard, initially developed by 

OSAC’s Biological Data Interpretation & Reporting Subcommittee and 

finalized by ASB’s DNA Consensus Body, provides an essential framework for 

Has your organization already started implementing OSAC Registry standards? 

Complete OSAC’s Laboratory Implementation Declaration Form and send it 

to mark.stolorow@nist.gov to let us know. 

Share your implementation experience and be featured in a future OSAC news post.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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forensic laboratories validating a probabilistic genotyping system for the interpretation 

of autosomal STRs. Forensic laboratories that already use a probabilistic genotyping 

system can review their validation for compliance with this standard and supplement 

their previous validation where necessary.

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 089, Best Practice Recommendation for Facial 

Approximation in Forensic Anthropology, First Edition, 2020. This document, initially 

developed by OSAC’s Anthropology Subcommittee and finalized by the ASB 

Anthropology Consensus Body, provides guidance for facial approximation from skeletal 

remains. The production and assessment of facial approximations using skeletal remains 

represents a combination of varied methods of art and anatomical science that continue 

to evolve. Therefore, recommendations for specific techniques are not addressed. Facial 

imaging procedures such as composite drawings and postmortem imaging from 

photographs are not addressed.

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

ASB:

• ASB Standard 014, Standard for Friction Ridge Examination Training Program. This 

document provides the requirements for a forensic service provider’s (FSP’s) training 

program for friction ridge examiners and includes recommended learning outcomes for 

the trainee. This document does not provide lesson plans, practical exercises, or 

performance measures for successful completion of each module. Individual sections 

only apply to trainees who perform those job functions. Comment deadline August 20, 

2020.

• Recirculation* – ASB Standard 024, Canine Detection of Humans: Location Check Using 

Pre-Scented Canines. This document provides the requirements for pre-scented canine 

location check search using a canine team to search for and identify a specific person’s 

(target) scent at a given location. This standard promotes consistency across agencies,

departments, and organizations utilizing pre-scented canines’ location check search and 

provide the judicial system optimized protocol. Comment deadline August 24, 2020.

• ASB Standard 096, Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of 

Ammunition and Ammunition Components. This new standard provides procedures for 

the examination and documentation of ammunition and/or ammunition components by 

forensic firearm and toolmark examiners or technicians. Following these procedures, an 

examiner or technician will be able to document and report the examination of 

ammunition and/or ammunition components. This document does not cover the 

microscopic comparison of toolmarks on ammunition components. Comment deadline 

September 7, 2020.

• Recirculation* – ASB Standard 119, Standard for the Analytical Scope and Sensitivity of 

Forensic Toxicological Testing of Blood in Medicolegal Death Investigations. This 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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document delineates the minimum requirements for target analytes and analytical 

sensitivity for the forensic toxicological testing of blood specimens collected in 

medicolegal death investigations. This document does not cover the analysis of urine, 

tissues, or other specimens that are commonly analyzed in medicolegal death 

investigations. Comment deadline September 7, 2020.

• Recirculation* – ASB Standard 120, Standard for the Analytical Scope and Sensitivity of 

Forensic Toxicological Testing of Blood in Impaired Driving Investigations. This document 

delineates the minimum requirements for target analytes and analytical sensitivity for 

the forensic toxicological testing of blood specimens collected from drivers suspected of 

being impaired. This document does not cover the analysis of breath, oral fluid, urine, or 

other potential specimen types collected in impaired driving investigations. Comment

deadline September 7, 2020.

• Recirculation* – ASB Standard 121, Standard for the Analytical Scope and Sensitivity of 

Forensic Toxicological Testing of Urine in Drug-Facilitated Crime Investigations. This 

document delineates the minimum requirements for target analytes and analytical 

sensitivity for the forensic toxicological testing of urine specimens collected from 

alleged victims of drug-facilitated crimes (DFC). This document does not cover the 

analysis of blood and other evidence that may be collected in DFC cases. Comment 

deadline September 7, 2020.

• ASB Standard 135, Anthropology Scene Detection and Processing. This document 

provides requirements and best practices for forensic anthropology and forensic 

archaeology practitioners in proper scene detection, processing, handling of evidence, 

and maintenance of a chain of custody, commensurate with jurisdictional requirements. 

These requirements and best practices use archaeological techniques and principles as a 

foundation for scientifically appropriate detection, processing, documentation, and 

collection of human remains and associated evidence at a scene. Comment deadline 

September 7, 2020.

*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.

For the ASB documents listed above, download the comment template and return it to

asb@aafs.org by the comment deadline. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

The following documents are being initiated and are expected to result in a new or revised 

standard.

ASB:

• On July 31, 2020 a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 

30 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 143-202x, Best Practice Recommendations for Technical Review in

Friction Ridge Examination. This document provides best practice 

recommendations for conducting technical reviews of friction-ridge impression 

examinations and general guidance on best practices for technical reviews, 

including a checklist and sample review forms. This document does not address 

administrative review or verification.

o BSR/ASB Std 145-202x, Standard for Consultation during Friction Ridge 

Examination. This standard sets documentation, quality, and consultant 

requirements for consultations during friction-ridge examinations. This 

document does not apply to conflict resolution.

OTHER NEWS 

Three-Part Webinar Series on Biology/DNA Standards and Best 

Practices

Join OSAC, ASB and Promega for a three-part webinar series that will provide

information on new/emerging standards and best practice recommendations

for forensic biology and DNA testing laboratories.

• Development and Publication of New Standards and Best Practices – The Process (Part

1) – available on-demand

• Mixture Interpretation Validation, and Protocol Development and Verification (Part 2) –

Wednesday, August 5

• Training Standards Overview (Part 3) – Wednesday, September 9

Register for the series here.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2020

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Development of the Term “Exclusionary Difference” and a More Uniform Use of 

Spectral Comparison Language

Read more from Diana Wright, chair of OSAC’s Materials (Trace) Subcommittee, in the July 

2020 issue of the American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE) Newsletter, page 11, 

regarding a brief history of the evolution of the terms used to describe the differences between 

items being compared from “significant” to “meaningful” to “exclusionary differences.”

Get Involved with OSAC

OSAC offers a variety of ways for members, affiliates and other experts in the forensic science 

community to participate in the standards advancement process. Click here to learn how you 

can help make an impact on the forensic science community through standards.