OSAC Standards Bulletin

The OSAC Standards Bulletin is organized to capture the following standard development phases in the OSAC Registry Approval and SDO processes:

• After being published by an SDO, selected standards and guidelines may proceed to the OSAC Registry Approval Process where they are evaluated further for technical merit and impact on the forensic science community.
• In the SDO process, OSAC committees or task groups submit an idea (i.e., work item), a partially drafted document, or a fully drafted document to an SDO for further development, commenting, and publishing. 

Number of New Standards Placed on the OSAC Registry: Two (2)

Number of OSAC Registry Documents Open for Comment: Six (6) 

Number of SDO Documents Open for Comment: Seventeen (17)

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.

New Documents on the OSAC Registry

OSAC has added the following standards to the Registry:

• ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory’s Mixture Interpretation Protocol, First Edition, 2018 (Biological Data Interpretation & Reporting Subcommittee, effective May 12, 2020).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019 (Biological Data Interpretation & Reporting Subcommittee, effective May 12, 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.

In the Comment Adjudication Phase

• ANSI/ASB Standard 072, Standard for the Validation of Procedures in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2019. 

In the Appeals Phase

• None currently.

For a list of all standards currently under consideration, please visit the OSAC website.

Comment Period Open on Draft Documents

ASTM International:

• New Terminology for the Examination of Explosives (WK56998). This is a compilation of terms and corresponding definitions related to the analysis of explosives. Ballot closes May 17, 2020.

• Revision of E1588-17 Standard Practice for Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (WK70036). This practice covers the analysis of gunshot residue by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Ballot closes May 17, 2020.

• Revision of E1843-16 Guide for Sexual Assault Investigation, Examination, and Evidence Collection (WK65720). This guide outlines the basic components for the development of sexual violence investigation protocols, with specific attention to the examination of sexual violence scenes, victims and suspects of sexual violence, the recovery of testimonial, physical, and behavioral evidence, and the preservation and custody of physical evidence. Ballot closes May 17, 2020.

• Revision of E2123-16 Standard Practice for Transmittal of Evidence in Sexual Assault Investigation (WK70378). This practice describes the basic considerations that will help preserve different items or types of sexual violence related evidence for subsequent analysis. Ballot closes May 17, 2020.

• Revision of E2124-15 Standard Practice for Specification for Equipment and Supplies in Sexual Assault Investigations (WK70377). This specification describes the basic instruments used for the medical-legal examination of victims or suspects, or both, in sexual assault investigations. Ballot closes May 17, 2020.

• Guide for Standard Guide for Crime Scene Photography (WK69872). This document is intended to be a general guide outlining best practices for all practitioners of crime scene photography. This includes professionals whose job is specifically limited to photography and those who may only encounter the need to photograph a crime scene occasionally. Ballot closes May 20, 2020. 

• New Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Gunshot Residue (GSR) using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS) (WK58457). This standard practice is intended to facilitate the development and implementation of training programs in crime laboratories or other such analytical entities that participate in the detection, analysis, and classification of primer GSR particles. Ballot closes May 27, 2020. 

• New Practice for Assessment of Gas Chromatography and Electron Ionization Mass Spectrometry Data During the Qualitative Analysis of Seized Drugs (WK65067). This standard describes procedures to evaluate gas chromatography (GC) and electron ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS) data generated during the qualitative analysis of seized drugs. It also includes a framework for establishing acceptance criteria for GC and EI-MS data comparisons. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Practice for Standard Practice for Reporting Report Writing of Forensic Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM/EDS) (WK69622). This standard practice covers the scope of information to be contained in formal, written, technical reports that express the opinion of the scientific or technical expert with respect to pGSR analysis by SEM/EDS. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Guide for Forensic Examination and Comparison of Pressure Sensitive Tapes (WK71337). This guide is intended as an introduction to other standard guides for the forensic examination of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. It aims to assist individuals who conduct forensic tape analyses in their evaluation, selection, and application of tests that can be of value to their examinations. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Practice for Standard Practice for Expert Opinions on the Interpretation of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (WK72526). This document applies to persons who present expert opinions regarding primer gunshot residue analysis results. This document defines the range of opinions that are based upon the existence of a body of published scientific literature. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Guide for The Development of Electron Ionization-Mass Spectral Libraries for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (WK72630). This guide describes minimum criteria for the development of electron ionization- mass spectral libraries. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Guide for the Microscopical Examination of Human Hair (WK72597). This document is intended to assist individuals and laboratories by providing standards for the microscopical examination of human hair for the classification and comparison of samples. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• New Guide for Intralaboratory Blind Quality Control Programs for Seized-Drug Analysis (WK72638). This document provides guidelines to develop and implement a blind intralaboratory comparison quality control (BQC) program for seized drug analysis. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• Revision of E2227-13 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Non-Reactive Dyes in Textile Fibers by Thin-Layer Chromatography (WK58028). Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) is an inexpensive, simple, and well-documented technique that, under certain conditions, can be used to complement the use of comparison microscopy and visible spectroscopy microspectrophotometry (MSP) in comparisons of fiber colorants. TLC can provide information regarding individual dye components present in dyed fibers that cannot be obtained through other color analyses (such as MSP). Ballot closes May 27, 2020.

• Revision of E2451-13 Standard Practice for Preserving Ignitable Liquids and Ignitable Liquid Residue Extracts from Fire Debris Samples (WK58027). This standard covers procedures for the preservation of ignitable liquids and ignitable liquid residue extracts obtained from fire debris samples and questioned ignitable liquid samples. Ballot closes May 27, 2020.   

• Revision of E2809-13 Standard Guide for Using Scanning Electron Microscopy/X-Ray Spectrometry in Forensic Paint Examinations (WK57479).  This standard guide is intended to assist in analyses of forensic polymer samples (e.g., tape, paint) by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It is intended to be applied within the scope of a broader analytical scheme for the forensic analysis of a polymer sample. Ballot closes May 27, 2020. 

New Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

The following document is being initiated and is expected to result in a new or revised standard.

ASB:

• On April 17, 2020 a Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published on page 18 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:
  • BSR/ASB Std 140-202x, Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, Interpretation, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting. This document provides the requirements for a forensic DNA laboratory’s training program in forensic human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis, interpretation, statistical evaluation, and reporting.
     

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. Please be on the lookout for an announcement regarding a web-based training session introducing participants to the draft document and exercise, which is expected to begin this summer. We encourage you to share this information with your colleagues and visit the Materials (Trace) Subcommittee webpage to start reviewing the document now, with particular attention to Sections 1-5 and 9.

If you have questions or would like to participate in the exercise, please contact Andria Mehltretter at ahmehltretter [at] fbi.gov (ahmehltretter[at]fbi[dot]gov).

Call for Members: New ASB Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body

ASB is forming a new Crime Scene Investigation Consensus Body. If you’re interested in participating, please apply by May 29, 2020 using the on-line application form. Members will be selected by the Board of Directors of the ASB. Please send any additional questions to tambrosius [at] aafs.org. 

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.