Standards Resources

Whether you’re new to standards or already engaged in the development and Registry approval processes, OSAC has compiled some resources to help you.

General Standards Development 

Access to Standards. Learn more about the standards developing organizations (SDOs) OSAC works with and how to access forensic science standards.

OSAC Standards Bulletin. Published on the first Tuesday of each month, this OSAC communication provides information about the forensic science standards undergoing the Registry approval and SDO processes.

NIST Standards.gov website. The NIST Standards Coordination Office maintains this website to help users better understand documentary standards and conformity assessment. 

Drafting Standards 

Mandatory Requirements for Standards Development. OSAC's Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) has identified nine topics as priorities for standards development. This document specifies what OSAC's SAC and subcommittees need to address when drafting standards in these topic areas and what the FSSB will review when approving a standard for the OSAC Registry.  

• OSAC Guidance Document: Drafting and Updating Standards on Reports and Testimony. This document expands on OSAC's Mandatory Requirements for Standards Development document and provides guidance to OSAC's SACs and subcommittees for drafting standards related to forensic science reporting, interpretations, opinions, and testimony regarding results. It also applies to revisions of existing standards on these topics.
• OSAC Guidance Document: Drafting and Updating Standards on Performance Monitoring. This document expands on OSAC's Mandatory Requirements for Standards Development document and provides guidance to OSAC's SACs and subcommittees for drafting standards for the administration of performance monitoring activities. It includes requirements and recommendations to be included when drafting standards for proficiency testing, intra- or inter-laboratory comparison testing, and observation-based monitoring. It also applies to revisions of existing standards on these topics.

A Guide to Writing World-Class Standards. Available from the European Standards Organization, ETSI, this document provides information about the standards development process, how to write good requirements, and other resources.

Commenting on Standards 

Standards Open for Comment. Visit this OSAC webpage to see a complete list of the OSAC proposed and SDO published standards that are being considered for the Registry and those open for public comment at SDOs. OSAC updates this information weekly – check back often and provide your input!  

Using Standards 

OSAC Registry Implementation. Explore this OSAC webpage to learn more about the strategies, resources, and other tools forensic science service providers can use to help them implement the standards on the OSAC Registry.  

OSAC Registry Implementation Resources. Check out this webpage to view articles, webinars, and workflows to help your implementation efforts. 

As part of NIST’s cooperative agreement with AAFS, standards factsheets and checklists are available to support standards implementation.

• Standards factsheets provide a concise summary of a standard and facilitate a broader understanding of its purpose, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. These factsheets summarize the contents of standards on the OSAC Registry. They are not intended to provide an interpretation for any portion of a standard.
• Standards checklists provide a tool for a forensic science service provider to evaluate the level of implementation and/or audit conformance to a standard. A checklist is a supplementary tool and should not be used independently - it must be used in conjunction with the standard. Copies of standards are available through the SDO. Each checklist is specific to a version of a standard and not all sections of a standard may be included in a checklist. Checklists are not intended to provide an interpretation for any portion of a standard.