OSAC Standards Bulletin - February 2026

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 02/03/2026 10:01 AM EST

NIST has secured a limited number of copies of Parts 3, 4, and 5 of the recently published ISO 21043 forensic science standards. This series of international standards provides guidance and requirements for the entire forensic process - from the scene to the courtroom. To facilitate implementation, these copies are available for download free of charge to eligible state and local forensic providers. Visit the OSAC website to learn more about the ISO 21043 standards and how your organization can request access.

February 2026

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 the development process at standards developing organizations (SDOs).

OSAC Registry Updates

The following eight SDO-published standards have been extended on the OSAC Registry for an additional three years (effective February 3, 2026).

ANSI/ASB 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory's Mixture Interpretation Protocol, 2018, 1st Ed.
ANSI/ASB Standard 022, Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs, 2019, 1st ed.
ANSI/ASB Standard 036,Standard Practices for Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology, 2019, 1st Ed.
ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols, 2019, 1st ed.
ANSI/ASTM E1412-19, Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Passive Headspace Concentration with Active Charcoal.
ANSI/ASTM E1413-19, Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Dynamic Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube.
ANSI/ASTM E2916-19e1, Standard Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence Examination.
ANSI/ASTM E3189-19, Standard Practice for Separation of Ignitable Liquid Residues from Fire Debris Samples by Static Headspace Concentration onto an Adsorbent Tube.

Visit the OSAC Registry to view the 245 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 two documents open for public comment in the areas of biology/DNA (comment deadline February 12, 2026), and friction ridge (comment deadline February 16, 2026).
ASTM has two documents open for comment in the areas of trace evidence and facial and iris identification (comment deadlines February 16, 2026).

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:

ASB Technical Report 194, Terminology for a Suspected Pattern of Dental Origin, 2026, 1st Ed. First Edition, 2026.

ASTM:

ANSI/ASTM E2329-25, Standard Practice for Designing Analytical Schemes for the Identification of Chemical Substances in Suspected Seized Drug Evidence (revision of ANSI/ASTM E2329-17, with title change).
ANSI/ASTM E3196-21e1, Standard Terminology Relating to the Examination of Explosives.
ANSI/ASTM E3197-23e1, Standard Terminology Relating to Examination of Fire Debris.
ANSI/ASTM E3391-24e1, Standard Terminology Relating to Gunshot Residue Analysis.
ANSI/ASTM E3501-25, Standard Guide for Forensic Analysis of Geological Materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry.
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2024-S-0012, currently on the OSAC Registry.

Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards

A Project Initiation Notification (PINS) was published in the ANSI Standards Action. This will begin work on the following ASB standards.

ASB Best Practice Recommendation 068, Best Practice Recommendation for the Safe Handling of Firearms and Ammunition, 202x, 2nd Ed. (this is a revision of ANSI/ASB BPR 068-2020, which is currently on the OSAC Registry). This document provides best practice guidelines for the safe handling of firearm and ammunition evidence by firearm and toolmark(s) examiners or technicians. (PINS published in the January 9, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
ASB Standard 093, Standard for the Forensic Examination and Testing of Firearms, 202x, 2nd Ed. (this is a revision of ANSI/ASB Standard 093-2020, which is currently on the OSAC Registry). This document provides requirements for the examination and testing of a firearm by firearm and toolmark examiners or technicians. Following these procedures, an examiner or technician will be able to conduct, document, and report the examination and testing of a firearm. (PINS published in the January 23, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126, Best Practice Recommendation for Casting Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence at the Crime Scene, 202x, 2nd Ed. (this is a revision of ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 126-2020, which is currently on the OSAC Registry). The document provides stakeholders an overview of best practices to be followed for the casting of footwear and tire impressions. The document can be a guide to forensic science trainees and their trainers and provides attorneys and the trier of fact a baseline on how to judge the methods of collection of footwear and tire evidence. (PINS published in the January 9, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
ASB Best Practice Recommendation 239, Best Practice Recommendation for the Identification of Decedents by the Medicolegal Death Investigation Authorities, 202x, 1st Ed. (new standard). This document provides recommendations for the identification of a decedent whose death is under investigation by the medicolegal death investigation authority. This document covers the strategy used in MDI to identify decedents using multiple modalities performed by multiple disciplines (friction ridge, DNA, odontology, radiograph comparisons, visual means, and via circumstances) including when use of non-scientific methods are appropriate. This document does not provide guidance on the processes and procedures of those disciplines. This document does not specifically address mass fatality incidents. (PINS published in the January 23, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
ASB Standard 242, Standard for Case File Management and Reporting in Forensic Anthropology, 202x, 1st Ed. (new standard). This standard provides minimum requirements for creating, maintaining, and disposing of technical records, and reporting results for forensic anthropological examinations. This standard applies to all forensic anthropology service providers regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing. (PINS published in the January 30, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2024-S-0016, Standard for Case File Management and Reporting in Forensic Anthropology, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASB Guideline 243, Guideline for a Quality Assurance Program in Forensic Anthropology, 202x, 1st Ed. (new standard). This document provides guidelines on the minimal components of a quality assurance program for forensic anthropology practitioners. This document supplements ASB Standard 244, Standard for a Quality Assurance Program in Forensic Anthropology. (PINS published in the January 30, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2025-S-0014, Guidelines for a Quality Assurance Program in Forensic Anthropology, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASB Standard 244, Standard for a Quality Assurance Program in Forensic Anthropology, 202x, 1st Ed. (new standard). This document provides the minimum required components of a quality assurance program for non-accredited forensic anthropology laboratories. The components in this standard are intended to provide tangible steps toward laboratory accreditation. This standard is not a substitute for national or international accreditation standards, and adherence to this standard is not sufficient to satisfy such accreditation requirements. In instances where a laboratory has formal accreditation, those provisions supersede the requirements provided in this standard. (PINS published in the January 30, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2025-S-0013, Standard for a Quality Assurance Program in Forensic Anthropology, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASB Standard 245, Standard for the Systematic Verification of Alternative Training Aids for Detection Canine Disciplines, 202x, 1st Ed. (new standard). This standard provides requirements for conducting verification tests of alternative training aids for detection canines and the process for assessing alternative training aids, including the instrumental chemical composition analysis (solid/liquid and headspace analysis) and canine training efficacy. It does not include a detailed description of chemical analysis and canine assessment methodologies. (PINS published in the January 23, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
- NOTE: This is OSAC 2024-S-0023, Standard for the Systematic Verification of Alternative Training Aids for Detection Canine Disciplines, 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.

Check out the December 2025 RaDAR Newsletter to see the recent findings.

Upcoming Standard-Related Events

2026 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Scientific Conference, February 9 - 14, 2026, New Orleans, LA. Visit us at booth #517 and check out these presentations from NIST staff, along with other standards-related talks.
A2LA Annual Conference, April 12-15, 2026, Nashville, TN. OSAC will be sharing an update at A2LA’s Forensic Examination Advisory Committee (FEAC) Meeting held in conjunction with the conference.