OSAC Standards Bulletin – August 2021

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 August 2021

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 developing organizations 

(SDOs).

Bulletin Summary:

• New standards added to the OSAC Registry: 6

• Standards under consideration for the Registry and open for comment: 4

• New SDO published standards: 1

• Standards open for comment at SDOs: 4

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.

Six New Standards Added to the OSAC Registry

SDO Published Standards

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

Methods, First Edition, 2020 (added August 3, 2021). 
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• ANSI/ASB Standard 110, Standards for Training in Forensic Serological Methods, First Edition, 

2020 (added August 3, 2021). 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 115, Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods 

using Amplification, DNA Separation, and Allele Detection, First Edition, 2020 (added August 3, 

2021). 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 116, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods, First 

Edition, 2020 (added August 3, 2021). 

OSAC Proposed Standards

• OSAC 2021-N-0007, Media Communications Following a Mass Fatality Incident: Best Practice 

Recommendations for the Medicolegal Authority (added August 3, 2021). 

• OSAC 2021-N-0008, Victim Accounting: Best Practice Recommendations for Medicolegal

Authorities in Mass Fatality Management (added August 3, 2021).

Standards Open for Comment for OSAC Registry Approval

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 OSAC draft 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 draft is 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 September 6, 2021.

• OSAC 2021-S-0027, Standard Guide for Laboratory Photography.

• OSAC 2021-S-0028, Standard for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic 

Investigations.

• OSAC 2021-S-0029, Standard for Familial DNA Searching.

• OSAC 2021-S-0036, Standard Guide for Image Authentication.

NOTE: OSAC Resource Task Group members are encouraged to review these draft OSAC Proposed 

Standards and submit comments to forensics@nist.gov in accordance with OSAC’s revised processes.

Visit the OSAC website to see all the standards under consideration for the OSAC Registry, along with 

their status in the Registry approval process. 

Is your organization implementing standards on the OSAC Registry? 

Complete OSAC’s Registry 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.
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SDO UPDATES

New SDO Published Standards

On July 26, 2021, the Academy Standards Board (ASB) published the following standard:

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

Best Practices for Disaster Victim Identification, First Edition, 2021. This standard, initially 

drafted by OSAC’s Medicolegal Death Investigation Subcommittee and finalized by ASB’s 

Disaster Victim Identification Consensus Body, 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.

Standards Open for Comment at SDOs

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

asb@aafs.org by the comment deadline. 

• ASB Standard 138, Standard for Collection of Known DNA Samples from Domestic Mammals, 

First Edition, 2021. This standard provides the protocol for obtaining genetic known evidence 

samples (i.e., buccal swabs and pulled hair) for the purpose of genetic analysis from domestic 

animals such as dogs, cats, or livestock. This standard does not address sampling of nondomesticated animals. Comment deadline August 9, 2021.

• ASB Standard 039, Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on 

Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms, First Edition, 2021. This document details requirements for 

performing an internal validation of a human short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex kit using 

capillary electrophoresis (CE). Comment deadline August 30, 2021.

• ASB Best Practice Recommendation 129, Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation 

of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms, First Edition, 

2021. This document provides best practice recommendations for performing an internal 

validation of a human short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex kit using capillary electrophoresis 

(CE). This document is to be used as a companion document to the ASB Standard 39, Standard 

for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis 

Platforms. Comment deadline August 30, 2021.

• ASB Standard 154, Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology, First Edition, 2021. 

This document provides minimum training program requirements for forensic biology 

practitioners on scientific and legal principles necessary to testify. Comment deadline August 

30, 2021.

Visit the OSAC website to see the latest forensic science standards open for comment at SDOs.
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Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

The following documents are being initiated and are expected to result in new or revised standards.

ASB:

• On July 9, 2021, a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page two 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 173, Standard for Education and Training of Forensic Toxicology Personnel. This 

document provides minimum requirements for educational qualifications, training, 

competency, experience, continuing education, and certification of laboratory personnel 

performing or overseeing forensic toxicology analysis and breath alcohol instrument 

calibration. This applies to the following sub-disciplines: postmortem toxicology, human 

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

of alcohol or drugs) and other forensic testing (e.g., court-ordered toxicology, general 

forensic toxicology). Laboratory personnel that exclusively perform administrative or 

non-technical duties are outside the scope of this document.

OTHER NEWS 

Apply to Join OSAC!

OSAC is currently seeking to fill member vacancies on its committees, including its new 

Forensic Nursing Subcommittee. If you want to participate in the standards

development process and make an impact on the forensic science community, please 

submit an application to be eligible and considered for the positions opening in 

October. 

OSAC Registry Implementation Survey: Your Input Needed

There’s still time to participate in OSAC’s Registry Implementation Survey! We 

need to hear from your organization so we can better understand the current state 

of Registry implementation and what support forensic service providers need to 

improve standards implementation. The survey is intended to be a yearly snapshot 

and assessment, and the first one will cover the 46 Registry standards posted 

through March 2021.

The survey will close August 20 and results will be shared in OSAC’s Fall Newsletter/Annual Report, later 

in October. For more information and to preview a PDF version of the survey, visit the OSAC website. If 

you have any questions, please email the OSAC Program Office at forensics@nist.gov.
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Other Forensic Science News, Events & Training

Provide Comments on Three TWG3D2T Documents

The Toolmark Technologies Technical Working Group (TWG3D2T) is seeking feedback on the following

three documents:

• Bylaws

• Appendix A

• Appendix B

Click on each of the document links above to submit your comments. The public comment period is

open until 11:59 p.m. ET on August 31, 2021.

National Institute of Justice

Subscribe to NIJ’s forensic list (https://nij.ojp.gov/subscribe) to see the latest NIJ awards, solicitations,

events, and publications.

Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE)

CSAFE is offering two online short courses designed to introduce probability and statistics concepts to

forensic practitioners. The short courses are free of charge, but registration is required.

Upcoming Webinar: A Survey of Fingerprint Examiners’ Attitudes towards Probabilistic Reporting |

September 22 | 11:00 a.m. – noon CDT 

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE)

NIJ’s FTCoE, provides evidence-based resources about forensic technologies and emerging challenges.

Recent FTCoE activities include three new Just Science podcasts, all part of the Research and

Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season.

Upcoming Webinar: Best Practices for Digital Image Processing | August 5 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.