OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2020

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 June 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: 3

OSAC Registry documents open for comment: 9

SDO documents open for comment: 8

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 – June 2020

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New Documents on the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 028, Wildlife Forensics Morphology Standards, First Edition, 2019

(OSAC Wildlife Forensics Subcommittee, effective June 3, 2020).

• ASB Technical Report 033, Terms and Definitions in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First 

Edition, 2017 (OSAC Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Subcommittee, effective June 3, 2020).

• ANSI/ASB Standard 047, Wildlife Forensics Validation Standard—Validating New Primers 

for Sequencing, First Edition, 2019 (OSAC Wildlife Forensics Subcommittee, effective 

June 3, 2020).

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

Please submit your comments by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 13, 2020 on whether the following 

standards should be included on the OSAC Registry:

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

Identification, First Edition, 2020. Submit your comments here.

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

Examination. Submit your comments here.

• ASTM E3016-18 Standard Guide for Establishing Confidence in Digital and Multimedia 

Evidence Forensic Results by Error Mitigation Analysis. Submit your comments here.

• ASTM E3017-19 Standard Practice for Examining Magnetic Card Readers. Submit your 

comments here. 

• ASTM E3046-15 Standard Guide for Core Competencies for Mobile Phone Forensics. 

Submit your comments here.

• ASTM E3150-18 Standard Guide for Forensic Audio Laboratory Setup and Maintenance. 

Submit your comments here.

Please submit your comments by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 3, 2020 on whether the following 

standards should be included on the OSAC Registry.

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

Analysis, First Edition, 2019. Submit your comments here.

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

your comments here.

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

your comments here.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2020

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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 045, Standard for Stature Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, First 

Edition, 2019. 

• 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.

• *ASTM E1967-19 Standard Test Method for the Automated Determination of Refractive 

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

Microscope.

• *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.

*NOTE: To access the ASTM standards above, please visit the Access to Standards page on the 

OSAC website. 

At FSSB for Vote

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

Toxicology, First Edition, 2019

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 – June 2020

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SDO UPDATES

Published

On April 21, 2020 the American Academy of Forensic Science Standards 

Board (ASB) announced the publication of ANSI/ASB Standard 032, 

Standards for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst’s Training Program, 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 minimum pre-training educational 

requirements for an individual currently in, or entering a bloodstain 

pattern analysis training program. It also describes the minimum training requirements that a 

trainee must successfully complete prior to practicing as a bloodstain pattern analyst.

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents 

ASB:

• ASB Standard 092, Canine Detection of Explosives. This new standard provides the 

training requirements for a canine team (i.e., canine handler and canine) and details 

follow-on assessments for trained canine teams in the field of explosives detection. This 

standard is intended to be used as the basis for all phases of the training process and 

includes certification procedures, training and assessments, record keeping, and 

document management. Comment deadline June 22, 2020.

• ASB Best Practice Recommendation 060, Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length 

Measurements for Firearms. This document provides the guidelines for measuring and

reporting barrel length and overall length (BL-OL) of firearms, including guidelines for 

measurement traceability and estimating uncertainty of BL-OL measurements. This 

document does not apply to descriptive measurements of firearms. Comment deadline 

June 29, 2020.

• ASB Standard 134, Standard for Analyzing Pathological Conditions and Anomalies in 

Forensic Anthropology. This new standard sets forth techniques and approaches for 

describing, documenting, interpreting, and reporting pathological conditions and 

anomalies from skeletal and dental material and radiographic images. It does not 

provide guidance for distinguishing between anomalies and normal skeletal variation,

nor does it address cause and manner of death classification or skeletal trauma. 

Comment deadline July 6, 2020.

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

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

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ASTM International:

• New Guide for Analysis of Forensic Geological Materials by Powder X-Ray Diffraction

(XRD) (WK72837). This guide makes recommendations for the preparation of forensic 

geological materials for XRD analysis; instrumental configuration to generate high 

quality XRD data; criteria for the identification of crystalline materials by XRD by 

comparison to published diffraction data; and guidelines for comparison of XRD patterns 

from two or more forensic soil samples to support criminal investigations. Ballot closes 

June 10, 2020.

• New Practice for Standard Practice for the Collection, Preservation, and Analysis of 

Organic Gunshot Residue (WK72856). This standard practice describes procedures for 

the sampling and preservation of organic gunshot residues (OGSR) recovered from 

hands, skin, clothing, and other substrates, also instrument conditions for subsequent 

analysis of samples by gas or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS or LCMS), and recommendations for reporting the significance of those findings. Ballot closes 

June 10, 2020.

• New Guide for Forensic Glass Analysis and Comparisons (WK72932). This guide is 

intended to assist individuals who conduct forensic glass analyses in the identification, 

evaluation, selection, and application of test methods that can be of value to an 

investigation. This guide describes an analytical scheme for glass fragments that is 

intended to advise and assist the analyst in the collection and interpretation of data 

resulting from these analyses. Ballot closes June 10, 2020.

• Revision of E2917-2019a Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing 

Education, and Professional Development Programs (WK72728). This is an annex to 

E2917 and provides supplementary requirements for the seized drugs analysis 

discipline. Ballot closes June 21, 2020.

• New Practice for Quality Assurance of Forensic Science Service Providers Performing 

Forensic Chemistry Analyses (WK71108). This practice provides a framework of quality in 

the processing of evidence including maintaining a quality management system; 

personnel duties, qualifications, training, education, and professional development; 

facility considerations; evidence handling; analytical procedures; instrument and 

equipment performance; chemicals and reagents; casework documentation and 

reporting; proficiency and competency testing; method validation and verification; 

audits; deficiency of analysis; and documentation requirements. Annexes provide 

additional procedures that are discipline specific. Ballot closes June 25, 2020.

For access to the ASTM documents listed above, contact Brian Milewski 

(bmilewski@astm.org) to become a member of Committee E30 on Forensic Science.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2020

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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 May 15, 2020 a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 

33 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 144-202x, Best Practice Recommendations for the Verification 

Component in Friction Ridge Examination. This document provides best practice 

recommendations for how to conduct the verification phase during friction ridge 

impression examinations. These examinations apply to both suitability 

determinations and resulting conclusions addressing verification considerations 

(e.g., extent, utility, case type, approach), types of verification and applications 

options, and documentation. This document does not address technical review.

o BSR/ASB Std 147-202x, Standard for Analyzing and Reporting on Skeletal Trauma 

in Forensic Anthropology. This standard provides requirements for documenting, 

describing, interpreting, and reporting skeletal trauma in forensic anthropology. 

It also provides requirements for the determination of trauma timing (i.e., 

antemortem, perimortem, or postmortem) and the identification of the 

mechanism that produced the trauma (i.e., high-velocity projectile, blunt force, 

sharp force, thermal). This document does not address cause and manner of 

death.

OTHER NEWS 

New Resource Available for the Seized Drugs Discipline: Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry Analysis Considerations Document

The OSAC’s Seized Drugs Subcommittee has a new resource available for the forensic science 

community. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) Analysis Considerations 

document aims to raise awareness of certain GC-MS analytical challenges and limitations that 

may occur during the analysis of specific substances in seized drug evidence. The document also 

includes references that explain limitations or considerations or demonstrate how to overcome 

these respective limitations or considerations. This document is available on the Seized Drugs 

Subcommittee website and will be updated regularly. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit 

additional information (e.g., compounds, analysis considerations, references, etc.) for 

consideration in future revisions.
OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2020

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Help Evaluate OSAC’s Materials (Trace) Draft Document, Standard Practice for 

Interpretation and Report Writing in Forensic Comparison of Trace Materials

In preparation for submitting a document to ASTM for formal standards development, OSAC’s

Materials (Trace) Subcommittee will be conducting an interlaboratory data collection exercise

to evaluate the draft of its Standard Practice for Interpretation and Report Writing in Forensic

Comparison of Trace Materials.

The focus of the first round of this study will be on forensic paint analysis. A web-based training

session will be held June 11, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to introduce participants to the draft

document and exercise. The time commitment for participants starts with this approximately

one-hour training session and includes some additional preparation time for studying the

guidance document and several hours within a selected one-week time period over the

summer to complete the exercise. Participants will have 15 scenarios to work through and

choose a conclusion. No data will be provided to view and evaluate; however, the summary of

data and results will be shared.

The draft document can be found on the Materials (Trace) Subcommittee website in the Under

Development section. We encourage you to start reviewing this document now, paying

attention to sections 1-5 and 9 and to share this information with your colleagues.

To participate, please complete this form. If you have any questions about this interlaboratory

exercise, please send them to Andria Mehltretter (ahmehltretter@fbi.gov).

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 validation of its measurement 

capabilities or, 2) Elect to have their results used in lieu of formal validation studies to underpin 

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. 
OSAC Standards Bulletin – June 2020

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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.

Funding Available for Standards Curricula Development

OSAC encourages stakeholders to apply to NIST’s FY2020 Standards Services Curricula 

Development Cooperative Agreement Program. This program awards funding to eligible 

applicants to develop undergraduate or graduate level curricula to incorporate documentary 

standards, standards development, and standardization information and content into seminars, 

modules, courses, and learning resources. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov

no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 15, 2020. 

2020 Call for Members for ASB Consensus Bodies

The ASB is currently accepting applications for openings in their consensus bodies. Please visit 

the ASB website for more information on the different consensus bodies, interest categories, 

and how to apply. Applications will be accepted until July 3, 2020. 

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.