OSAC Standards Bulletin – July 2020

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 July 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: 6

OSAC Registry documents open for comment: 0

SDO documents open for comment: 3

OSAC REGISTRY UPDATES

The OSAC Registry serves as a repository of scientifically sound forensic 

science standards that address discipline-specific forensic science needs. 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 the document’s high quality and to 

encourage its use by relevant stakeholders in the forensic science community.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – July 2020

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New Documents on the OSAC Registry

Digital/Multimedia

• ASTM E2916-19e1 Standard Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence 

Examination (OSAC Digital Evidence Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

• ASTM E3017-19 Standard Practice for Examining Magnetic Card Readers (OSAC Digital 

Evidence Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

• ASTM E3150-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Audio Lab Setup and Maintenance (OSAC 

Digital Evidence Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

Materials (Trace)

• ASTM E1967 Standard Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive 

Index of Glass Samples Using the Oil Immersion Method and a Phase Contrast 

Microscope (OSAC Materials (Trace) Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

• ASTM E2330 Standard Test Method for Determination of Concentrations of Elements in 

Glass Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for 

Forensic Comparisons (OSAC Materials (Trace) Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

Toxicology

• ANSI/ASB Standard 036, Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic 

Toxicology, First Edition, 2019 (OSAC Toxicology Subcommittee, effective July 7, 2020).

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

• None currently.

In the Comment Adjudication Phase

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

• ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, 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 – July 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 Method 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

• None currently.

Sent Back to SDO for Revision

• ASTM E3016 Standard Guide for Establishing Confidence in Digital and Multimedia 

Evidence Forensic Results by Error Mitigation. 

• ASTM 3046-15 Standard Guide for Core Competencies for Mobile Phone Forensics. 

NOTE: Criminal justice agencies can access the ASTM standards listed above by visiting OSAC’s

Access to Standards webpage.

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

Has your organization already started implementing OSAC Registry approved 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 – July 2020

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SDO UPDATES

Published

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

recently published three new documents:

• ANSI/ASB Standard 023, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation 

and Purification Methods, First Edition, 2020. This document, initially 

developed by OSAC’s Biological Methods Subcommittee and finalized by the 

ASB DNA Consensus Body, provides requirements to ensure proper training 

in the methods of DNA isolation and purification used within the trainee’s forensic DNA 

laboratory.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 031, Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First 

Edition, 2020. This document, initially developed by OSAC’s Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 

Subcommittee and finalized by the ASB Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Consensus Body,

provides guidelines for report writing in bloodstain pattern analysis. In addition, 

guidance is provided regarding statements to be avoided in the report.

• ANSI/ASB Standard 111, Standard for Training in Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis 

for Taxonomic Identification, First Edition, 2020. This document, initially developed by 

OSAC’s Wildlife Forensics Subcommittee and finalized by the ASB Wildlife Forensics 

Consensus Body, provides requirements to ensure proper training in animal taxonomic 

identification based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, data analysis, and 

reporting within the trainee’s forensic DNA laboratory.

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

ASB:

• ASB Best Practice Recommendation 052, Best Practice Recommendation for the 

Detection of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence. This document provides best 

practice recommendations for personnel responsible for detecting footwear and tire 

impressions. These recommendations optimize the detection of impressions. The 

methods included in this document may not cover all aspects of unusual or uncommon 

conditions. This document is not intended as a substitute for training in the detecting of 

footwear and tire impression evidence. Completion of a training program and 

experience in these skills are essential to understanding and applying the 

recommendations outlined in this document. Comment deadline July 13, 2020.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – July 2020

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• ASB Best Practice Recommendation 094, Postmortem Impression Recovery: Guidance 

and Best Practices for Disaster Victim Identification. This document provides guidance 

on, and highlights challenges associated with, obtaining postmortem prints from 

decedents and/or human remains in morgue operations associated with mass fatality 

disaster incidents. Comment deadline July 13, 2020.

• Recirculation* - ASB Standard 026, Canine Detection of Humans: An Aged Trail Using 

Pre-scented Canines. This document provides the requirements for training, certification 

and documentation pertaining to pre-scented canine-aged track/trail search. Prescented canine aged trail searches use a canine team (canine and handler) to search for 

and follow aged trails of a specific person’s (target) scent over different surface types. 

An aged track/trail is a human scent pathway that has been present for some period of 

time, typically expressed with a time frame associated with the track/trail (e.g., a 24-

hour or older track/trail) Comment deadline July 27, 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.

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 May 29, 2020 a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 

24 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 142-202x, Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of 

Conflicts of Friction Ridge Examination. This document provides the best practice 

recommendations for how to resolve conflicts between examiners at any point 

during the technical review or verification process of conflicting suitability 

decisions, conflicting source conclusions, and documentation of conflict 

resolution. This document does not address differences of opinion that occur at 

the consultation level or any organizational response once an error is discovered 

or the conflict(s) are resolved.

o BSR/ASB BPR 146-202x, Standard for Resolving Commingled Remains in Forensic 

Anthropology. This standard provides the procedures and requirements for 

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

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

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resolving commingled remains. The techniques presented include size, age, and 

sex similarities; articulation between elements; taphonomic similarities; and

reconstruction of fragmentary remains. The document also describes the 

determination of MNI (Minimum Number of Individuals), as well as the LI 

(Lincoln Index) and MLNI (Most Likely Number of Individuals) based on the 

number of paired and unpaired bones.

• On June 5, 2020 a PINS was published on page 23 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 153-202x, Standard Practices for Proficiency Testing for Forensic 

Toxicology Laboratories. This document defines the minimum scope and

frequency for proficiency testing for laboratories engaged in the following subdisciplines: postmortem forensic toxicology, human performance toxicology 

(e.g., drug-facilitated crimes, driving-under-the-influence of alcohol or drugs, 

breath alcohol), and general forensic toxicology (non-lethal poisonings or 

intoxications). This document is not intended to cover employment drug testing 

or court-ordered toxicology (e.g., probation and parole, drug courts, child 

services).

• On June 12, 2020 a PINS was published on page 31 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 152-202x, Standard for Minimum Content Requirements of Forensic 

Toxicology Procedures. This document provides requirements for the minimum 

content of technical and analytical procedures in forensic toxicology. This 

standard applies to laboratories performing forensic toxicological analysis in the 

following subdisciplines: postmortem forensic toxicology; human performance 

toxicology (e.g., drug-facilitated crimes and driving-under-the-influence of 

alcohol or drugs); non-regulated employment drug testing, court-ordered 

toxicology (e.g., probation and parole, drug courts, child services, breath 

alcohol); and general forensic toxicology (non-lethal poisonings or intoxications).

• On June 26, 2020 a PINS was published on page 86 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 Std 148-202x, Standard for Personal Identification in Forensic 

Anthropology. This standard provides requirements for establishing the 

biological profile and contributing information (such as comparative radiography 

and serial numbers on surgical implants) leading to a positive identification of 

human remains. This standard does not address identification of living 

individuals.

o BSR/ASB Std 149-202x, Standard for Taphonomic Observations in Support of the 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – July 2020

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Postmortem Interval. This standard provides requirements for describing and 

analyzing the taphonomic effects on human remains and associated evidence 

that can be observed in the laboratory as well as in the field. Also, it provides 

requirements for recording and reporting the taphonomic and contextual 

indicators that contribute to estimating the postmortem interval in sufficient 

detail to allow for independent interpretation, replication, and verification of 

conclusions drawn.

o BSR/ASB Std 150-202x, Standard for Determination of Medicolegal Significance 

from Skeletal Material. This standard sets procedures required for the 

determination and identification of remains as skeletal or nonskeletal. It further 

sets methodological, testing, and observational procedures for identifying 

skeletal remains as either human or non-human and sets required procedures to 

assess the relevancy of human remains to the medicolegal death investigation 

system.

OTHER NEWS 

Register Now for a 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

applicable to forensic biology and DNA testing laboratories.

The first webinar in this series, Development and Publication of New Standards and Best

Practices – The Process, will describe the complete process for standards development within

OSAC and ASB.

You will learn:

• How these documents were conceived, written and developed into published standards

• An overview of OSAC and ASB; their history; the general process of document creation

and construction

• The future process of maintaining or revising the documents

Part 1 of the webinar series will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 1pm EDT. Register here!

This three-part series on Biology/DNA standards and best practices will continue over the next

few months. Register for the series here.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – July 2020

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NIST Invites Forensic Laboratories to Participate in the Cannabis Quality 

Assurance Program (CannaQAP)

Does your laboratory develop quantitative methods to distinguish hemp from marijuana? Then 

participate in NIST’s Cannabis Quality Assurance Program (CannaQAP). CannaQAP aims to help 

laboratories demonstrate and improve measurement comparability and/or competence for 

hemp determination through a perpetual interlaboratory study mechanism. Participating 

forensic laboratories can utilize this trusted tool to: 1) Obtain reliable quality control samples to 

evaluate an individual laboratory’s performance and provide data that can be used in the 

validation of its measurement capabilities or, 2) Use their results to demonstrate their 

laboratory’s purported capabilities. 

CannaQAP exercises are designed to include a variety of sample types in increasing order of 

complexity. Laboratories are highly encouraged to participate in all exercises. Exercise 1 was 

designed to assess sources of instrumental method variability and exercise 2 will introduce 

variability of sample preparation/extraction of plant materials. The CannaQAP schedule will 

include multiple Cannabis-derived oils and plant exercises, while also incorporating extracts, 

concentrates, distillates, and edibles in future exercises. 

EXERCISE SAMPLE TYPE WHEN

1 Hemp oils June-July 2020 

2 Plant (hemp and marijuana) October 2020

3 TBD April 2021

4 TBD October 2021

5 TBD April 2022

NIST is also planning to release a hemp plant Reference Material with a tentative target date of 

July 2021. 

To participate in the CannaQAP, please contact the Cannabis/CannaQAP Team at 

cannabis@nist.gov. If you have any suggestions or questions regarding CannaQAP or other 

Cannabis projects at NIST, you can also email the Cannabis/CannaQAP Team.

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.