OSAC Standards Bulletin - September 2025

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 09/02/2025 10:30 AM EDT

There are two more weeks to participate in the 2025 OSAC Registry Implementation Open Enrollment event!

Join the 245+ OSAC Registry Implementers and help show the impact that standards are having on the forensic science community.

September 2025

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science's Standards Bulletin provides a monthly update on forensic science standards moving through the OSAC Registry approval process and development process at standards developing organizations (SDOs).

OSAC Registry Updates

New Standards Added to the Registry

The following seven standards (six SDO-published and one OSAC Proposed) have been added to the OSAC Registry (effective September 2, 2025).

SDO-published:

ANSI/ASB Standard 070, Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items, 2022, 1st Ed.
ANSI/ASB Standard 127, Standard for the Preservation and Examination of Charred Documents, 2022, 1st Ed.
ANSI/ASTM E2926-25 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (µ-XRF) Spectrometry.
- This will replace ANSI/ASTM E2926-17 Standard Test Method for Forensic Comparison of Glass Using Micro X-ray Fluorescence (µ-XRF) Spectrometry on the OSAC Registry.
ANSI/ASTM E3307-24 Standard Practice for the Collection and Preservation of Organic Gunshot Residue (OGSR).
- This will replace OSAC 2021-N-0009, Standard Practice for the Collection and Preservation of Organic Gunshot Residue on the OSAC Registry.
ANSI/ASTM E3406-25 Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis.
- This will replace OSAC 2022-S-0017, Standard Guide for Microspectrophotometry in Forensic Fiber Analysis on the OSAC Registry.
ANSI/ASTM E3423-24 Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Explosives by Polarized Light Microscopy.
- This will replace OSAC 2022-S-0023, Standard Practice for the Forensic Analysis of Explosives By Polarized Light Microscopy on the OSAC Registry.

OSAC Proposed:

OSAC 2024-S-0016, Standard for Case File Management and Reporting in Forensic Anthropology.

Visit the OSAC Registry to view the 235+ forensic science standards currently available.

Standards Open for Comment

Open for Comment at OSAC

There are no standards currently open for comment at OSAC.

Open for Comment at SDOs

The following SDOs are accepting public comments on documents:

The Academy Standards Board (ASB) has nine documents open for public comment in the areas of bloodstain pattern analysis (comment deadline September 8), crime scene investigation & reconstruction (comment deadline October 6), medicolegal death investigation (comment deadline October 13) and biology/DNA (comment deadline October 13).
ASTM has 14 standards open for comment in the areas of trace evidence, video/imaging analysis & technology, seized drugs, and ignitable liquids, explosives, & gunshot residue (comment deadlines September 15).
The Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) has four documents open for comment until September 3.

Visit OSAC's Standards Open for Comment webpage to access these documents, as well as the instructions and deadlines for comment submissions.

SDO Updates

New Published Standards

The following standards have recently been published by an SDO.

ASB:

ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practice Recommendation for the Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear and Tires, 2025, 2nd. Ed.
- NOTE: This is a revision of ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practices for the Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear and Tires, 2019, 1st Ed., currently on the OSAC Registry.
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 209, Best Practice Recommendations for Communicating with Next of Kin during Medicolegal Death Investigations, 2025, 1st Ed.
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2023-N-0022, Best Practice Recommendations for Communicating with Next of Kin during Medicolegal Death Investigations, currently on the OSAC Registry

Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

A Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) was published in the August 15, 2025 ANSI Standards Action and August 29, 2025, ANSI Standards Action*. This will begin ASB's work on the following:

ASB Best Practice recommendation 089, Best Practice Recommendation for Facial Approximation in Forensic Anthropology, 202x, 2nd Ed. (revision of ANSI/ASB BPR 089-2020). This best practice recommendation sets forth guidance for facial approximation from skeletal remains. The production and assessment of facial approximations using skeletal remains represents a combination of varied methods of art and anatomical science that continue to evolve. Therefore, recommendations for specific techniques are not addressed. Facial imaging procedures such as composite drawings and postmortem imaging from photographs are not addressed*.
ASB Standard 163, Standard for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Other Manufacturer Applied Markings, 202x, 1st Ed. This new standard provides procedures for the commonly used serial number restoration techniques. These procedures provide the requirements for the examiner or technician to conduct, document, and report on any results of the restoration of obliterated serial numbers and other manufacturer-applied markings. Other restoration techniques may be available and appropriate but are beyond the scope of this document.
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2023-S-0018, Standard Test Method for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Other Markings, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASB Standard 228, Standard for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories, 202x, 1st Ed. This new standard provides the minimum requirements and recommendations for competency testing for firearm and toolmark examiner trainees and/or examiners, including areas of competence, methods for assessment of competence, documentation of competence, and reassessment of competence. This document does not address proficiency testing requirements.
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2024-N-0010, Requirements and Recommendations for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 232, Best Practice Recommendation for the Development of Criteria for Acceptance of a Request for Friction Ridge Examinations, 202x, 1st Ed. This new standard provides recommendations for the development of criteria for the acceptance of a request for friction ridge examinations to include latent print processing, friction ridge comparisons, and automated database searching. This document does not address administrative decisions after a request has been accepted.
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2023-N-0012, Best Practice Recommendations for the Acceptance of a Request for Friction Ridge Examinations, currently on the OSAC Registry.

Other Forensic Science Standards-Related News & Events

RaDAR Program

NIST’s Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) lab provides near real-time insight into the nation’s illicit drug landscape. By analyzing drug samples sent from local, state, and federal partners, the lab identifies new compounds appearing in the illegal drug supply that may pose a health and safety threat to users, public health workers and law enforcement.

Learn more about the RaDAR program in this video and check out the July RaDAR newsletter to see the recent findings.

Upcoming Events