Standards Under Consideration

The following documents are under consideration for placement on the OSAC Registry, along with their status in the OSAC Registry approval processes.  

OSAC Registry Approval Process for SDO Published Standards

Open for Comment: During the open comment period, OSAC provides forensic science stakeholders an opportunity to offer their feedback on whether an SDO published standard should be placed on the Registry. For a list of standards currently open for comment, please see the Standards Open for Comment webpage. 

In Comment Adjudication: If any negative comments are received during the open comment period, OSAC committees will address them during the comment adjudication phase. The following SDO published standards are currently in this phase:

biology/DNA

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 114, Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of Software Used in Forensic DNA Laboratories, 2022, 1st Ed. 

bloodstain pattern analysis

• ANSI/ASB Standard 031, Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, 2020, 1st Ed.
• ANSI/ASB Standard 157, Required Components for a Proficiency Testing Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, 2023, 1st Ed. 

forensic anthropology

• ANSI/ASB Standard 045, Standard for Stature Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, 2019, 1st Ed. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 090, Standard for Sex Estimation in Forensic Anthropology, 2019, 1st Ed. 
• ANSI/ASB Standard 150, Standard for Determination of Medicolegal Significance from Skeletal Remains in Forensic Anthropology, 2021, 1st Ed. 

friction ridge

• ANSI/ASB 145, Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination, 2023, 1st Ed. 

trace Materials

• ASTM E2224-23a, Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Fibers by Infrared Spectroscopy

At the Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) for Review to Add to Registry: After all comments have been addressed, the FSSB will have an opportunity to petition for a discretionary FSSB review. The following standards are currently at the FSSB for review:

• ASTM E3295-23 Standard Guide for Using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence in Forensic Polymer Examinations
• SWGDE 22-F-0003-1.0 Best Practices for Remote Collection of Digital Evidence from a Networked Computing Environment

Registry Approval Process for OSAC Proposed Standards

Open for Comment: OSAC provides forensic science stakeholders an opportunity to suggest revisions to a draft standard and offer their feedback on whether it should be included on the Registry as an "OSAC Proposed Standard". For a list of OSAC Proposed Standards currently open for comment, please see the Standards Open for Comment webpage. 

In Comment Adjudication: OSAC subcommittees will review and address any comments that were received during the open comment period. The following OSAC Proposed Standards are currently in the comment adjudication phase:

biology/dna

• OSAC 2022-S-0024, Best Practice Recommendations for Evaluative Forensic DNA Testimony.
• OSAC 2022-S-0040, Standard for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods. 
• OSAC 2022-S-0041, Best Practice Recommendations for Internal Validation of DNA Extraction Methods.

crime scene investigation & reconstruction

• OSAC 2022-S-0037, Standards for DNA-Based Taxonomic Identification in Forensic Entomology.
• OSAC 2023-N-0003, Standard for Diagramming Scenes. 
• OSAC 2023-N-0020, Standard for the On-Scene Collection and Preservation of Friction Ridge Impressions. 

facial identification

• OSAC 2022-S-0008, Standard Guide for Minimum Facial Comparison Documentation.

footwear & tire

• OSAC 2022-S-0032, Best Practice Recommendation for the Chemical Processing of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence.
• OSAC 2023-S-0017, Standard for the Articulation of Footwear and Tire Interpretations. 

forensic document examination

• OSAC 2022-S-0034, Standard for the Expression of Conclusions in Forensic Document Examination.

forensic nursing

• OSAC 2023-N-0013, Standard for Evidence Collection and Management for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations. 
• OSAC 2023-N-0015, Standard for the Education of Forensic Nurses who Conduct Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations for Adult and Adolescent Patients.

forensic odontology

• OSAC 2022-N-0028, Human Abuse Recognition and Documentation by Dental Professionals.

friction ridge

• OSAC 2023-N-0012, Best Practice Recommendations for the Acceptance of a Request for Friction Ridge Examinations. 

medicolegal death investigation

• OSAC 2022-N-0021, Family Engagement Following a Mass Fatality Incident: Victim Information Center Best Practice Recommendations for Medicolegal Authority.
• OSAC 2022-S-0022, Standard for Disaster Victim Identification.

seized drugs

• OSAC 2022-S-0014, Building an Analytical Scheme for the Assessment of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Suspected Marijuana Plant Material Samples.

trace materials

• OSAC 2023-N-0005, Standard Practice for Training a Forensic Glass Practitioner.

video/imaging technology & analysis

• OSAC 2022-S-0031, Standard Guide for Forensic Digital Video Examination Workflow.

wildlife forensic biology

• OSAC 2021-S-0014, Standard for Reference Collections in Wildlife Forensic Biology: Genetics and Vertebrate Morphology.

At the FSSB for Review: After the subcommittee reviews and adjudicates the comments received during the open comment period, the FSSB has an opportunity to review and appeal adding an OSAC Proposed Standard to the Registry. The following standards are being reviewed by the FSSB:

crime scene investigation/reconstruction

• OSAC 2022-N-0039, Collecting and Preserving Entomological Evidence from a Terrestrial Environment.
• OSAC 2022-S-0036, Standard Method for the Chemical Testing of Copper and Lead from Suspected Projectile Impacts.
• OSAC 2023-N-0002, Standard for Scene Documentation Procedures. 

Forensic Odontology

• OSAC 2023-N-0025, Standard for Education and Training in Forensic Odontology.

Trace Materials

• OSAC 2023-N-0027, Standard Guide for Forensic Trace Evidence Recovery.

video/imaging technology & analysis

• OSAC 2022-S-0031, Standard Guide for Forensic Digital Video Examination Workflow.