U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (  A locked padlock
) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. https://www.nist.gov/services-resources/software/biometric-testing-software/biometric-conformance-test-software-biocts
  Search NIST
    Search
              Menu

      


Close
    Topics
        All Topics
                                                        Advanced communications
                                                        Artificial intelligence
                                                        Bioscience
                                                        Buildings and construction
                                                        Chemistry
                                                        Climate
                                                        Cybersecurity
                                                        Electronics
                                                        EnergyEnvironment
                                                        Fire
                                                        Forensic science
                                                        Health
                                                        Information technology
                                                        Infrastructure
                                                        Manufacturing
                                                        Materials
                                                        Mathematics and statisticsMetrology
                                                        Nanotechnology
                                                        Neutron research
                                                        Performance excellence
                                                        Physics
                                                        Public safety
                                                        Resilience
                                                        Standards
                                                        Transportation
            Publications
            Labs & Major Programs
        Laboratories
                                Communications Technology Laboratory
                                  Engineering Laboratory
                                  Information Technology Laboratory
                                  Material Measurement Laboratory
                                  Physical Measurement LaboratoryUser Facilities
                                NIST Center for Neutron Research
                                  CNST NanoFab
                                                        Research Test Beds
                                                        Research Projects
                                                        Tools & InstrumentsMajor Programs
                                Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
                                  CHIPS for America Initiative
                                  Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
                                  Office of Advanced Manufacturing
                                  Special Programs Office
                                  Technology Partnerships Office
            Services & Resources
        Standards and Measurements
                                Calibration Services
                                  Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)
                                  Quality System
                                  Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)
                                  Standards.gov
                                  Time Services
                                  Office of Weights and MeasuresSoftware
                                                        Data
                                Chemistry WebBook
                                  National Vulnerability Database
                                  Physical Reference Data
                                  Standard Reference Data (SRD)
                                                        Storefront
                                                        License & PatentsComputer Security Resource Center (CSRC)
                                                        NIST Research Library
            News & Events
        News
                                                        Events
                                                        Blogs
                                                        Feature Stories
                                                        AwardsVideo Gallery
                                                        Image Gallery
                                                        Media Contacts
            About NIST
        About Us
                                Leadership
                                  Organization Structure
                                  Budget & Planning
                                                        Contact Us
                                                        Visit
                                                        Careers
                                Student programsWork with NIST
                                                        History
                                NIST Digital Archives
                                  NIST Museum
                                  NIST and the Nobel
                                                        Educational Resources
 
 Biometric Testing Software
                            Expand or Collapse
          Biometric Conformance Test Software (BioCTS)
                                              Expand or Collapse
                BioCTS for ISO/IEC
                                  BioCTS for ANSI/NIST-ITL
                                  BioCTS Machine Readable Tables
                                  BioCTS in the Cloud
                      Biometric Application Programming Interface (BioAPI) Conformance Test Suite
                                              Expand or Collapse
                BioAPI CTS User Guide and Download
                      NIST/ITL Conformance Test Suite for Patron Format A Data Structures Specified in ANSI INCITS 398-2008, Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF)
                                              Expand or Collapse
                Background on CBEFF Standards
                                  CBEFF PFA User Guide and DownloadBiometric Conformance Test Software (BioCTS)

Share
  Facebook
                      Linkedin
                      Twitter
                      Email

BioCTSLogoNIST/ITL CSD Biometric Conformance Test Software for Biometric Data Interchange Formats

**NEWDecember 2023:**BioCTS for ISO/IEC Conformance Test Suite for ISO/IEC 19794-14:2022 DNA DataDownloads

NIST/ITL CSD Biometric Conformance Test Software (BioCTS) tests implementations for conformance to various biometric data interchange format standards. BioCTS for ISO/IEC tests for conformance to selected biometric standards developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37 - *Biometrics* and PIV profiles. BioCTS for ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 and ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update: 2013 tests for conformance to selected Record Types of the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 standard and the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update: 2013 respectively.  BioCTS AN MRT tests for conformance to ANSI/NIST-ITL standards and profiles defined by configurable XML files known as ANSI/NIST Machine Readable Tables (MRTs).

To download a specific version of BioCTS and the associated documentation, select the link below. For other conformance testing software, including test suites for BioAPI and CBEFF Patron Format A Data Structures, see the links in the page menu.

**BioCTS for ISO/IEC**
	**BioCTS for ANSI/NIST-ITL**
	**BioCTS AN MRT**
	**BioCTS in the Cloud**Overview

NIST/ITL Computer Security Division (CSD) supports the development of national and international biometric standards and promotes conformity assessment through:

Participation in the development of biometric standards
	Sponsorship of conformance testing methodology standard projects
	Development of associated conformance test architectures and test suites
	Leadership in national and international standards development bodiesDocumentation

NISTIR 7957 Conformance Test Architecture and Test Suite for ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 NIEM XML Encoded Transactions, *Fernando L. Podio, Dylan Yaga, and Christofer J. McGinnis,* September 2013
	NISTIR 7877 BioCTS 2012: Advanced Conformance Test Architectures and Test Suites for Biometric Data Interchange Formats and Biometric Information Records**,** *Fernando L. Podio, Dylan Yaga, and Christofer J. McGinnis,* September 2012Need for Conformance Testing

Conformance testing captures the technical description of a standard and measures whether an implementation faithfully implements the standard. Read more.

Software Description

BioCTS includes several features for testing implementations for conformance to biometric standards, including:

**Batch testing:** allows a large number of implementations to be tested quickly.
	**Editor:** allows data to be edited, retested, and saved in order to make failing files compliant.
	**Detailed results:** results feature pass/fail/warning messages, test names, and descriptions when appropriate. The editor allows the results to be displayed in a hierarchical, expandable format.Software Disclaimer

NIST/ITL CSD BioCTS Disclaimer

Software Requirements

BioCTS runs under Microsoft® Windows® 7TM Service Pack 1 and later, using the .NET 4.0 Framework.  This includes Windows® 8.1TM and Windows® 10TM.

Sponsor

The BioCTS work was sponsored in part by the Department of Homeland Security/Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM).

Contact

Send comments/errors on the tool, sample data and documentation to BioCTS [at] nist.gov(BioCTS[at]nist[dot]gov)

Back to Top
  Biometrics

    
    Created July 8, 2010, Updated December 7, 2023 ‹ Biometric Testing Software
              BioCTS for ISO/IEC ›
 HEADQUARTERS
            100 Bureau Drive
              Gaithersburg, MD 20899301-975-2000
            Webmaster | Contact Us | Our Other Offices
        Twitter
            
Facebook
            
LinkedIn
            
Instagram
            
YouTube
            
Giphy
            
RSS Feed
            
Mailing List
                              How are we doing? Feedback

  
  Site Privacy
                      Accessibility
                      Privacy Program
                      Copyrights
                      Vulnerability Disclosure
                      No Fear Act Policy
                      FOIA
                      Environmental Policy
                      Scientific Integrity
                      Information Quality Standards
                      Commerce.gov
                      Science.gov
                      USA.gov
                      Vote.gov