OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2023 

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 JUNE 2023

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

provides a monthly update on: 

● Standards moving through the OSAC Registry approval processes for published and OSAC 

Proposed Standards. 

● Standards moving through the development process at standards development organizations 

(SDOs).

Bulletin Summary:

● New standards added to the OSAC Registry: 3

● Standards Open for Comment for Registry Approval: 7

● New SDO Published Standards: 7

● New Work Proposals: 4

● Standards open for comment at SDOs: 36

OSAC REGISTRY UPDATES 

The OSAC Registry is a repository of high-quality, technically sound published and 

proposed standards for forensic science. These written documents define minimum 

requirements, best practices, standard protocols, and other guidance to help ensure 

that the results of forensic analyses are reliable and reproducible. 

All the standards on the OSAC Registry have passed a rigorous technical and quality 

review by OSAC members, including forensic science practitioners, research scientists, 

statisticians, and human factors and legal experts.

Three New Standards Added to the OSAC Registry 

Two SDO Published Standards (added June 6, 2023):

● SWGDE: 18-NOV-1.0 SWGDE Minimum Requirements for Testing Tools used in Digital and Multimedia 

Forensics

● SWGDE: 22-F-002-1.0 BEST PRACTICES FOR CHROMEBOOK ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS
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One OSAC Proposed Standard (added June 6, 2023): 

● OSAC 2022-S-0001, Standard Guide for Image Comparison Opinions

Standards Open for Comment for OSAC Registry Approval 

SDO Published Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for published standards is used to review existing SDO published 

standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry. Please submit your comments by 11:59 

p.m. ET on July 3, 2023, on whether the following SDO published standards should be included on the 

Registry:

● ANSI/ASB Standard 090, Standard for Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, 2019, 1st Ed. 

Submit your comments here.

OSAC Proposed Standards

The OSAC Registry approval process for OSAC Proposed Standards is used to review OSAC drafted 

standards for technical quality and placement on the Registry. The following draft OSAC Proposed 

Standards are being considered for submission to an SDO. The final draft provided to the SDO will be 

available on the OSAC Registry as an “OSAC Proposed Standard.”

OSAC welcomes comments on whether the current drafts are suitable for release to the SDO as well as 

suggestions for improvements in content and wording. To be considered, comments must be placed in 

the OSAC Comment Form and sent to comments@nist.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 3, 2023.

● OSAC 2023-N-0012, Best Practice Recommendations for the Acceptance of a Request for Friction 

Ridge Examinations

● OSAC 2023-N-0013, Standard for Evidence Collection and Management for Sexual Assault 

Medical Forensic Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients 

● OSAC 2023-N-0015, Standard for the Education of Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault 

Medical Forensic Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients

● OSAC 2023-N-0020, Standard for the On-Scene Collection and Preservation of Friction Ridge 

Impressions

● OSAC 2023-N-0022, Best Practice Recommendations for Communicating with Next of Kin during 

Medicolegal Death Investigations

● OSAC 2023-S-0017, Standard for the Articulation of Footwear and Tire Interpretations

SDO UPDATES

Is your organization implementing standards on the OSAC Registry?

Complete OSAC’s Registry Implementation Declaration Form found on the OSAC website and send it to 

mark.stolorow@nist.gov to let us know. Your organization will subsequently be awarded an OSAC Registry 

Implementer Certificate.

Interested in learning more about implementation? Check out OSAC’s new Implementation Recognition 

Factsheet
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New Published Standards

ANSI/ASB recently published the following standards:

● ANSI/ASB Standard 135, Scene Detection and Processing in Forensic Anthropology, 2023, 1st Ed.

● ANSI/ASB Standard 137, Standard for Examination and Documentation of Footwear and Tire 

Impression Evidence, 2023, 1st Ed. 

● ANSI/ASB Standard 157, Required Components for a Proficiency Testing Program in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis, 2023, 1st Ed. 

● ANSI/ASB Standard 158, Standard for Developing Standard Operating Procedures in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis, 2023, 1st Ed.

ANSI/ASTM recently published the following standards:

● ANSI/ASTM E2224-2023a, Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared 

Spectroscopy (revision of ANSI/ASTM E2224-2019) 

● ANSI/ASTM E2228-2023a, Guide for Microscopical Examination of Textile Fibers (revision of 

ANSI/ASTM E2228-2022A) 

● ANSI/ASTM 3254-23, Standard Practice for Use of Color in the Visual Examination and 

Comparison of Soil Samples

Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

On May 5, 2023, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 6, in the ANSI 

Standards Action. This will begin NFPA’s work on the following standard:

● NFPA 1033-202x, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator (revision of 

ANSI/NFPA 1033-2022)

On May 19, 2023, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on pages 2-3, in the ANSI 

Standards Action. This will begin ASB and ASTM’s work on the following standards:

● ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 190, Best Practice Recommendation for the Use of 

Digital Image Capture and File Storage Technology in Forensic Document Examination (new 

standard)

● ANSI/ASB Standard 191, Standard for the Examination of Dry Seals and Dry Seal Impressions

(new standard)
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● ASTM WK86273-202x, Guide for Interpretation and Reporting in Forensic Comparisons of Trace 

Materials (new standard)

Standards Open for Comment at SDOs

Stakeholders from the forensic science community are encouraged to provide input on standards as they 

are being developed at SDOs. For SDO published standards going through the OSAC Registry approval 

process, the public will have an opportunity to comment on a standard during the SDO’s public comment 

period but will not be given a second opportunity to comment through OSAC on whether the resulting 

standard should be placed on the Registry. 

Visit OSAC’s Standards Open for Comment webpage to see the full list of forensic science standards open 

for comment at SDOs and how to submit your feedback. This page consolidates and tracks comment 

deadlines for you and will be updated on a weekly basis. It currently includes:

● 7 standards open for comment at ASB in Biology/DNA (1), Dogs & Sensors (1), Forensic 

Anthropology (2), Friction Ridge (2), and Wildlife Forensics (1).

● 13 standards open for comment at ASTM in Facial Identification (1), Fire Debris (3), Gunshot 

Residue (3), Interdisciplinary (1), Trace Evidence (4), and Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis 

SC (1).

● 16 standards open for comment at SWGDE in Digital Evidence and Video/Imaging Technology & 

Analysis SC.

OTHER FORENSIC SCIENCE NEWS, EVENTS & TRAINING

Participate in ASTM E30 Forensic Science Committee

ASTM International’s E30 Forensic Science Committee is seeking participants from underrepresented 

interest categories of Consumer (defined as: consumers of forensic evidence and includes individuals 

working in regulating bodies and the judicial systems) and Producers (defined as: manufacturers of kits, 

equipment of provider of services to forensics science service providers.) Visit the E30 webpage to learn 

more.

Individuals who are interested in becoming an E30 member are invited to contact bmilewski@astm.org, 

ASTM’s E30 staff manager or join via the ASTM website.

The Scope of E30 is: The promotion of knowledge and development of standards (test methods, guides, 

practices, classifications, and terminology) for, but not limited to, definitions, methods and standard 

reference materials for the collection, preservation, scientific examination, preparation and reports 

relating to physical evidence for forensic purposes; and the general practice of forensic science; and 

other areas as determined by the scope.
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AAFS Standards Resources and Training 

As part of a cooperative agreement with NIST, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) is 

developing training, tools, and resources to enhance implementation efforts and broaden awareness of 

forensic science standards among communities of interest. 

● Standards factsheets provide a clear, concise, and easy way to understand the purpose of a 

specific standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. Standards factsheets are 

available for 80+ standards on the OSAC Registry.

● Standards checklists are a tool that forensic science service providers can use to track progress 

towards implementation, identify gaps or barriers to implementation, or document objective 

evidence of implementation or compliance with a standard. Checklists are available for 85+ 

standards on the OSAC Registry. 

● Standards videos and webinars are available for free from AAFS Connect. Learn about the 

standards development process, standards development activities in various disciplines, and 

information about specific SDO published standards on the OSAC Registry. 

Upcoming Events 

● Understanding ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendations for Detection, Photographic 

Documentation and Lifting of Footwear and Tire Impressions | June 13, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. ET

● The Ins and Outs of ANSI/ASB Standard 092: Standard for Training and Certification of Canine 

Detection of Explosives | June 20, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. ET 

● Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) Annual Meeting | November 6th-10th | 

Groton, CT | Registration is now open.