Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee

The Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to training, method development and validation, data analysis, interpretation, statistical analysis, reporting and testimony for human forensic serological and DNA testing.

Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products

Officers

Jarrah Kennedy, Subcommittee Chair, Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory

Charlotte Word, Subcommittee Vice Chair, Consultant

Michelle Madrid, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Members

Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee Affiliate List

Standards

On the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 018, Standard for Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added May 4, 2021).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standards for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol. 2018. 1st. Ed. (added May 12, 2020).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs. 2019. 1st. Ed. (added September 1, 2020).
• ANSI/ASB 023, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Isolation and Purification Methods. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added August 3, 2021).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 038, Standard for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Analysis Methods. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added May 2, 2023).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols. 2019. 1st. Ed. (added May 12, 2020).

  • See the intent/clarification note from OSAC's Biology SAC on Section 4.3. 

• ANSI/ASB Standard 077, Standard for the Development and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added December 6, 2022).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 110, Standard for Training in Forensic Serological Methods. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added August 3, 2021).
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 114, Internal Validation of Software used in Forensic DNA Laboratories. 2022. 1st. Ed. (added November 7, 2023).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 115, Standard for Training in Forensic Short Tandem Repeat Typing Methods using Amplification, DNA Separation, and Allele Detection. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added August 3, 2021).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 116, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Quantification Methods. 2020. 1st. Ed. (added August 3, 2021).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 123, Standard for Routine Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocol. 2024. 1st Ed. (added July 2, 2024). 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 130, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Amplification Methods for Subsequent Capillary Electrophoresis Sequencing. 2021. 1st. Ed. (added April 5, 2022).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 131, Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Sequencing using Capillary Electrophoresis. 2021. 1st. Ed. (added April 5, 2022).
• ANSI/ASB Standard 140, Standard for Training in Forensic Human Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, Interpretation, Statistical Evaluation, and Reporting. 2021. 1st. Ed. (added April 5, 2022).
• OSAC 2020-N-0007, Best Practice Recommendations for Management and Use of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Laboratories (added April 6, 2021 and sent to ASB for further development and publication).
• OSAC 2020-S-0004, Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events (added June 1, 2021 and sent to ASB for further development and publication). 
• OSAC 2021-S-0003, Standards for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms (added November 7, 2023).
• OSAC 2021-S-0021, Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses - General Protocol, Protocol Verification, and Case Record Requirements (added January 5, 2023 and sent to ASB for further development and publication). 
• OSAC 2021-S-0029, Standard for Familial DNA Searching (added January 5, 2023 and sent to ASB for further development and publication). 
• OSAC 2021-S-0028, Standards for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic Investigations (added November 1, 2022 and sent to ASB for further development and publication). 

Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) and Eligible for the OSAC Registry

• ANSI/ASB Standard 139, Reporting DNA Conclusions. 2024. 1st. Ed. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 154, Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology. 2024. 1st. Ed.
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 171, Best Practice Recommendations for the Management and Use of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis. 2024. 1st. Ed.
  • NOTE: This is the SDO Published version of OSAC 2020-N-0007, Best Practice Recommendations for the Management and Use of Quality Assurance DNA Elimination Databases in Forensic DNA Analysis currently on the OSAC Registry.

Sent to an SDO for Further Development & Publication

• OSAC 2020-S-0004, Standard for Interpreting, Comparing and Reporting DNA Test Results Associated with Failed Controls and Contamination Events (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2021-S-0003, Standards for Setting Analytical and Stochastic Thresholds for Application to Forensic DNA Casework Using Electrophoresis Platforms (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2021-S-0021, Forensic Autosomal STR DNA Statistical Analyses - General Protocol, Protocol Verification, and Case Record Requirements (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• OSAC 2021-S-0029, Standard for Familial DNA Searching (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry). 
• OSAC 2021-S-0028, Standards for Use of Serological Testing Methods Associated with Forensic Investigations (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry).
• ASB 020-xx, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol. 2nd Ed. (revision to ANSI/ASB 020 which is currently on the Registry).
• ASB 022-xx, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs. 2nd Ed. (revision to ANSI/ASB 022-19 which is currently on the Registry). 
• ASB 040-xx, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols. 2nd Ed. (revision to ANSI/ASB 040-19 which is currently on the Registry). 
• ASB 077-xx, Standard for the Development and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods. 2nd. Ed. (revision to ANSI/ASB 077-20 which is currently on the Registry).
• Standard for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms.  
• Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Human Short Tandem Repeat Profiling on Capillary Electrophoresis Platforms. 
• Assigning Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations.
• Standard for Reporting DNA Conclusions.
• Standard for Training to Perform Forensic DNA Reporting and Review.
• Standard for Training in the Use of Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
• Formulating Propositions for Likelihood Ratios in Forensic DNA Interpretations. 
• Standard for Training of Forensic Autosomal and Y-STR Data Interpretation.
• Standard for Training in the Use of Statistics in Interpretation of Forensic DNA Evidence.
• Standard for Training of Analysis of Forensic STR Data.
• Forensic Laboratory Standards for Prevention, Monitoring, and Mitigation of DNA Contamination.
• Standard for Training on Testimony for Forensic Biology.
• Best Practice Recommendation for Internal Validation of Forensic DNA Software.

Under Development

• OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony. 
• OSAC 2022-S-0040, Standard for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods. 
• OSAC 2022-S-0041, Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods.
• Standard for Training in Forensic Sequencing Methods (Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS)/Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
• Standard for Internal Validation of Genetic Analysis on NGS/MPS Platforms.
• Standard for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Human DNA Quantification.
• Standard for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms.
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Internal Validation of Automated Platforms.
• Best Practice Workflows for Efficient Sampling and Direct to DNA of Sexual Assault Kits.

Other Work Products

Presentations

• Green Mountain DNA Conference, July 2023. 

Process Maps

• Human Forensic DNA Analysis Process Map (Current Practice), May 2022. 

Reference Documents

Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.

• OSAC Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee Response to NIST DNA Mixture Interpretation Foundation Review, August 23, 2021. 

Research & Development Needs

• See the research & development needs identified by the Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee.

Implementation Resources

• The OSAC Human Forensic Biology Subcommittee has developed an assessment guide and worksheet laboratories can use to help evaluate whether they have met the requirements listed in section 4 of ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2019, 1st Ed. 
• In late 2021, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) entered into a cooperative agreement with NIST to develop tools, resources, and training to assist with standards implementation efforts. As part of this agreement, AAFS is developing checklists that forensic science service providers can use to provide objective evidence of implementation or compliance with a standard, identify gaps or impediments to implementation, or track progress towards implementation. A checklist for ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, First Edition, 2019 has been developed and is available on AAFS's Standards Checklists webpage.