OSAC Standards Bulletin – January 2020 1

 

 January 2020

Bulletin Summary 

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science Standards Bulletin provides an update on 

forensic science standards that are moving through the Registry Approval Process at OSAC and those moving through 

the development process at standards developing organizations (SDOs).

This bulletin is organized to capture the following standard development phases in the OSAC Registry Approval and 

SDO processes:

• After being published by an SDO, selected standards and guidelines may proceed to the OSAC Registry 

Approval Process where they are evaluated further for technical merit and impact on the forensic science 

community.

• In the SDO process, OSAC committees or task groups submit an idea (i.e., work item), a partially drafted 

document, or a fully drafted document to an SDO for further development, commenting, and publishing. 

Number of New Standards Placed on the OSAC Registry: None

Number of OSAC Registry Documents Open for Comment: None

Number of SDO Documents Open for Comment: Six (6) 

OSAC Registry Updates

 

The OSAC Registry serves as a trusted repository of highquality, 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 a document’s high 

quality and to encourage its adoption by relevant stakeholders in the forensic science community.
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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:

In the Comment Adjudication Phase:

• ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a 

Laboratory’s Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First Edition, 2018. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019. 

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

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

SDO Updates

New or Revised Standards

• On December 16, 2019 the American Academy of Forensic Science 

Standards Board (ASB) published ANSI/ASB Standard 030, Standard for 

a Quality Assurance Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First 

Edition, 2019. This document, initially developed by OSAC’s Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis Subcommittee and finalized by the ASB Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis Consensus Body, provides requirements for 

establishing and maintaining a documented quality assurance 

program in bloodstain pattern analysis to forensic service providers. 

• On December 16, 2019 ASB published ANSI/ASB Standard 044, Standard 

for the Examination of Documents for Indentations, First Edition, 2019.

This document was initially developed by SWGDOC, updated by OSAC’s 

Forensic Document Examination Subcommittee, and finalized by the 

ASB Forensic Document Examination Consensus Body. It summarizes commonly accepted techniques, 

technologies, and procedures used by forensic document examiners for the examination of documents for 

indentations. 

• On December 16, 2019 ASB published ANSI/ASB Standard 090, Standard for Sex Estimation in Forensic 

Anthropology, First Edition, 2019. This document was initially developed by SWGANTH, updated by OSAC’s 

Anthropology Subcommittee, and finalized by the ASB Anthropology Consensus Body. It describes methods 

for estimating sex from adult skeletal elements obtained directly from skeletal remains or radiographic 

images of skeletal remains. The methods in this standard provide a morphologically-based or 

mathematically-based scientific manner for estimating sex, and for documenting the sex estimation process. 

This document does not include sex estimation in skeletal elements from subadults, or through DNA analysis.

If your organization is on the “tip of the spear” and has already embraced the OSAC Registry 

implementation efforts, let us know! Please email mark.stolorow@nist.gov to share your experience. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – January 2020 3

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents

Consider sharing your expertise by commenting on the following documents to ensure they are technically sound and 

aligned with the needs of the forensic science community:

ASB:

• ASB 126, Best Practice Recommendation for Casting of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence. This new 

document provides best practice recommendations for casting of footwear and tire impression evidence by 

appropriate personnel. Following the recommendations described in this document should result in the 

optimal recovery of impressions. Comment deadline January 13, 2020.

• ASB Technical Report 051, Scope of Work for a Footwear/Tire Examiner. This technical report covers the primary 

responsibilities, types of examinations, and constituent duties of a footwear/tire examiner for lab 

management, quality assurance, law enforcement and the judiciary. Comment deadline January 20, 2020.

• ASB 114, Best Practice Recommendation for Validation of Forensic DNA Software. This document assists a 

laboratory in designing validation studies to evaluate the various software programs used in the forensic DNA 

laboratory. Specifically, this guidance document applies to, but is not limited to the following: (a) software 

used as a component, part, or accessory of instrumentation; (b) software that impacts chain of custody 

documentation; (c) software that impacts the decision process and/or influences conclusions or reporting; 

and (d) software created by the laboratory to assist with calculations and/or data transfers. This document 

does not cover probabilistic genotyping. Comment deadline January 27, 2020.

ASTM International:

• Guide for Systematic Approach to the Extraction, Analysis, and Identification of Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris 

Samples (WK64631). This guide describes a systematic approach to the extraction, analysis, and identification 

of ignitable liquids and their residues in solid and liquid samples. This guide also addresses evidence 

handling, extraction methodologies, instrumental analysis techniques, and analytical data interpretation. 

Comment deadline January 20, 2020.

• Practice for Forensic Paint Analysis Training Program (WK64632). This document is intended as a practice for 

use by laboratory personnel responsible for training examiners to perform forensic examinations and 

comparisons of paint. It contains a list of training objectives with recommended methods of instruction, 

reading assignments and structured exercises to provide practical experience for the trainee. Comment 

deadline January 20, 2020.

• Practice for Forensic Tape Analysis Training Program (WK64633). This document is intended as a practice for 

use by laboratory personnel responsible for training examiners to perform forensic examinations and 

comparisons on pressure sensitive tapes and adhesives. It contains a list of training objectives with 

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

 asb@aafs.org by the comment deadline. 

To access the ASTM documents listed above, contact Brian Milewski (bmilewski@astm.org) to become a member of 

Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – January 2020 4

recommended methods of instruction, reading assignments and structured exercises to provide practical 

experience for the trainee. Comment deadline January 20, 2020.

asb@aafs.org by the comment deadline. 

New 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 December 6, 2019 a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 20 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 document:

o BSR/ASB Std 139-202x, Reporting DNA Conclusions. This new document will provide the reporting 

requirements for autosomal STR and haplotype DNA conclusions for results obtained from evidentiary 

samples in forensic casework and does not apply to paternity or any other biological relatedness 

conclusions.

• On December 20, 2019 a PINS was published on page 20 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 document:

o BSR/ASB Std 096-202x, Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of Ammunition and 

Ammunition Components. This new document will establish a standard for firearm and toolmark 

examiners and technicians to examine and document ammunition and/or ammunition components. 

Other News 

Attending the 2020 AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting in Anaheim, California? 

If so, be sure to attend Workshop 14 – Mass Disasters and Disaster Victim 

Identification (DVI) on Monday, February 17, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to

learn more about the OSAC Registry Standard ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 010, Forensic Anthropology in 

Disaster Victim Identification: Best Practice Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority, First Edition, 2018 and its

impact the forensic science community. 

Visit the AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting website for more information and to register!

Check out this article by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation-Division of 

Forensic Sciences (GBI-DOFS) about its journey and support for implementing 

the standards on the OSAC Registry. This article is also available in the latest

ASCLD Crime Lab Minute.

Contact Teresa Ambrosius (tambrosius@aafs.org) for more information on the proposed ASB documents or to submit 

your comments.