OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
(1) areas on storage media which a file system has marked as available for use for data storage; (2) the portions of storage media that are unassigned external to a file system
See classical conditioning.
An alert for which the presence of a trained odor/scent cannot be confirmed. This may be the result of residual or lingering odor/scent that the canine can detect but which has not been confirmed by technology or direct observation. (See non-productive response.)
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s).
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s).
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s).
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s)
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s)
Lack of verification of search results following a deployment of a canine team(s)
In facial identification, an image not captured in accordance with facial identification/facial recognition (FI/FR) standards or guide- lines (for example, a surveillance image).
In facial identification, an image not captured in accordance with facial identification/facial recognition (FI/FR) standards or guidelines (for example, a surveillance image). (See image.)
A written or oral consensus between the interested parties concerning the management of the investigations.
A computing industry standard for the representation of most of the world's scripts (suchas Latin letters, Cyrillic letters, Chinese characters, special symbols and others). See A.
the smallest group of atoms of a crystal lattice that has the overall symmetry of a crystal of that substance, and from which the entire lattice can be built up by repetition in three dimensions.
An individual heel or outsole that must be glued and/or stitched to the upper.
Measures taken to ensure safety under the assumption that any unknown materials or situations present the most dangerous scenario possible.
Data that cannot be used for comparisons for reasons including, but not limited to, poor or limited data quality, mixture complexity, or a failure to meet quality assurance requirements.
Data that cannot be used for comparisons for reasons including, but not limited to, poor or limited data quality, mixture complexity, or a failure to meet quality assurance requirements.
Rubber not subjected to the process of vulcanization. The handling of this material may result in randomly acquired characteristics.
The top portion of the footwear excluding the outsole or midsole.
A buoyant layer of hot gases and smoke produced by a fire in a compartment.
The highest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably measured with acceptable bias and precision
To locate target odor/scent sources in a city type of environment.
A measure to determine the concentration of the urine.
A measure to determine the concentration of the urine.
Uniform Resource Identifier.
Uniform Resource Locator.
Universal Serial Bus. Refers to a family of standardized computer peripheral interfaces.
Coordinated Universal Time.
Unicode Consortium Standard Transmission Format
A decision made by an examiner in accordance with FSP policy and/or procedure as to whether or not an impression will proceed to the next step in the examination process.
The Unified Victim Identification System developed by the Office of the Chief MedicalExaminer of New York City and its built-in Dental Identification Model.
V-shaped patterns are created by flames, convective or radiated heat from hot fire gases, or smoke within the fire plume. The V pattern often appears as lines of demarcation.
The administration of antigenic material (a vaccine) to stimulate an individual's immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate morbidity from infection. (See immunize.)
The administration of antigenic material (a vaccine) to stimulate an individual's immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate morbidity from infection.
The antibody titer is a test that detects the presence and measures the amount of antibodies within a canine's blood. The amount and diversity of antibodies correlates to the strength of the body's immune response.
The antibody titer is a test that detects the presence and measures the amount of antibodies within a canine's blood. The amount and diversity of antibodies correlates to the strength of the body's immune response.
verification (3.8), where the specified requirements are adequate for an intended useEXAMPLEA measurement procedure, ordinarily used for the measurement of mass concentration ofnitrogen in water, may be validated also for measurement of mass concentration of nitrogen in human serum.[SOURCE: ISO/IEC Guide 99:2007, 2.45]
A process of evaluating a system, method, or component, to determine that requirements for an intended use or application have been fulfilled.
Also referenced in ANSI/ASB Technical Report 025, Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions, ANSI/ASB 018 Standard for Validation of Probabilstic Genotyping Systems, ANSI/ASB 020 Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, ANSI/ASB 038 Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods, ANSI/ASB 019 Wildlife Forensics General Standards, ANSI/ASB 047 Wildlife Forensics Validation Standard and Validating New Primers for Sequencing, ANSI/ASB 022 Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, ANSI/ASB 063 Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Comparison Laboratories, ASTM E1732-22 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science.
A review used to determine the limitations of the method/procedure; conditions under whichreliable results can be obtained; critical aspects of a procedure/method that must be controlled andmonitored; and the scope and accuracy of the procedure to meet the needs of a given application.
The extent to which a measurement actually measures what you intend to measure which provides information relevant to the questions asked; valid measures provide a good, close relationship between a variable. Validity has two aspects: accuracy and specificity.
A lowered portion of the epidermis on the palmar or plantar skin, consisting of thoseareas between ridges.
the lightness of a color, from 0 (pure black) to 10 (pure white) in the Munsell color system.
the gaseous phase of a liquid or solid that can be returned to that phase by the application of pressure.
The gas phase of a substance, particularly of those that are normally liquids or solids at ordinary temperatures. (See also Gas.)
the pressure characteristic at any given temperature of a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid or solid form; often expressed as mm of mercury.
A reward schedule for a canine in operant conditioning in which the subject is rewarded after a period of time that varies from one reinforcement period to the next; there is variable time after one reinforcer or reward before the next reinforcer or reward becomes available.
Mode that allows some SEMs to operate at varying chamber pressures. The need for application of a conductive coating is minimized when using variable pressure mode; however, EDS can be complicated because of the electron beam spread experienced at higher operating pressures.
Mode that allows some SEMs to operate at varying chamber pressures. DiscussionThe need for application of a conduc- tive coating is minimized when using variable pressure mode; however, EDS can be complicated because of the electron beam spread experienced at higher operating pressures.
Type of SEM that is designed to operate at higher chamber pressure than the conventional in which the need for application of a conductive coating is minimized when using a variable pressure SEM; however, EDS may be complicated because of the electron beam spread experienced at higher operating pressures