July 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
New Standards Added to the Registry
The following four SDO-published standards have been added to the OSAC Registry (effective July 7, 2026):
- ASTM E3328-25 Standard Guide for Forensic Collection, Analysis, Comparison, and Evaluation of Glass.
- ASTM E3404-25 Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers.
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2022-S-0019, Standard Guide for Forensic Examination of Fibers, currently on the Registry. ASTM E3404-25 replaces OSAC 2022-S-0019 on the Registry and OSAC 2022-S-0019 will be moved to the Registry archive.
- ASTM E3462-25 Standard Guide for Interpretation and Reporting in Forensic Comparisons of Trace Materials.
- ASTM E3497-26 Standard Practice for the Collection of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Particles from Clothing, Vehicles, and Other Inanimate Objects using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Stubs.
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2023-N-0010, Standard Practice for the Collection of Primer Gunshot Residue (pGSR) Particles from Clothing, Vehicles, and Other Inanimate Objects using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Stubs, currently on the Registry. ASTM E3497-26 replaces OSAC 2023-N-0010 on the Registry and OSAC 2023-N-0010 will be moved to the Registry archive.
Visit the OSAC Registry to view the 249 forensic science standards currently available.
Standards Open for Comment
Open for Comment at OSAC
The following OSAC Proposed Standard is being considered for the OSAC Registry and is open for comment at OSAC until August 3, 2026:
Open for Comment at SDOs
The following SDOs are accepting public comments on documents:
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Academy Standards Board (ASB) has four documents open for public comment in the areas of biology/DNA, dogs and sensors, and friction ridge (all with comment deadlines of July 13, 2026).
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ASTM has three documents open for comment in the areas of terminology, training for iris examiners, and training for video and image analysis and photography (all with comment dates of July 20, 2026).
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Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) has six documents open for public comment until August 30, 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:
- ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 183, Best Practice Recommendation for Limited Friction Ridge Examinations, 1st Edition, 2026.
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2021-N-0020, currently on the OSAC Registry.
ASTM:
- ANSI/ASTM E3085-26 Standard Guide for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (revision of ANSI/ASTM E3085-17).
- NOTE: This will go through the Registry management process to replace the 2017 which is currently on the OSAC Registry.
- ANSI/ASTM E3405-26 Standard Practice for Forensic Fiber Training Program (new standard).
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2022-N-0018, currently on the OSAC Registry.
- ANSI/ASTM E3450-26 Standard Practice for Physical Fit Analysis Training Program (new standard).
- NOTE: This is the SDO-published version of OSAC 2023-N-0011, currently on the OSAC Registry.
Work Proposals for New or Revised Standards
A Project Initiation Notification (PINS) was published in ANSI Standards Action, which will begin ASB’s and ASTM’s work on the following standards.
ASB:
- ASB Standard 019, Standard for the Practice of Wildlife Forensic Laboratories (revision of ANSI/ASB Standard 019-2019). This standard provides requirements and recommendations for wildlife forensic laboratories, including laboratory practices, evidence handling, and a broad outline for analyst training as well as considerations of taxonomy and reference collections that are specific to wildlife forensic science. This document does not include specific training plans for analysts in various subdisciplines. This document is not intended to replace requirements in additional forensic laboratory standards, but is instead designed to guide laboratories which are working toward meeting those requirements (PINS published in the June 26, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
ASTM:
- ASTM E620-xx Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts (revision of ANSI/ASTM E620-18). This practice covers the scope of information to be contained in formal written technical reports which express the opinions of the scientific or technical expert with respect to the study of items that are or may reasonably be expected to be the subject of criminal or civil litigation (PINS published in the May 15, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
- ASTM WK99631, Standard Guide for Assessing Physical Characteristics and Using Light Microscopy in Forensic Tape Examinations (new standard). This guide outlines techniques and procedures intended for forensic science practitioners (FSP) who perform physical examinations and comparisons of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes. Its aim is to provide a description of the techniques used to evaluate the physical and optical characteristics of tape evidence (PINS published in the June 26, 2026 ANSI Standards Action).
Other Forensic Science Standards-Related News & Events
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Strengthening Forensic Science Through Standards: Inside OSAC's Fourth and Fifth In-Person Meetings
We’ve had a busy month! OSAC recently hosted its fourth and fifth in-person meetings of 2026, bringing together experts to advance forensic science standards.
From June 2-4, members of OSAC’s Trace Evidence Scientific Area Committee (SAC) and its two subcommittees gathered at NIST. The units made great progress drafting and reviewing standards for trace materials and ignitable liquids, explosives, and gunshot residue.
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Then we headed south to Austin, TX from June 16-18 where the Biology SAC and its two subcommittees and task group worked to draft, review and refine standards for human forensic biology, wildlife forensic biology, and forensic proteomics.
It’s been fantastic and invaluable to be meeting in person again, and we deeply appreciate the hard work and participation of all our members and affiliates so far this year.
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Call for ASB Consensus Body Members
ASB, an ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization, is announcing a call for new members for all existing consensus bodies. The consensus bodies have 7 to 25 members based on applications received. The ASB has six interest categories, applicants are encouraged to apply in their self-selected interest category. A person may apply to one or more Consensus Body and need not indicate the same interest category for each Consensus Body application.
Visit the ASB Call for Members page for additional information on the call for members and a link to the application. The deadline for applicants to submit the online form is July 27, 2026.
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 May RaDAR Newsletter to see the recent findings.
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Upcoming Standards-Related Events
Join the Upcoming Webinar Series: "Demystifying ISO 21043"
The forensic science landscape is evolving, and staying ahead of international standards is more critical than ever. The United States Technical Advisory Group (U.S. TAG) to ISO/Technical Committee (TC) 272, in collaboration with American Academy of Forensic Sciences, is hosting an informative series of webinars, “Demystifying ISO 21043”.
In case you missed it, the first webinar, “Introduction and Overview”, is now available on-demand from AAFS Connect. You do not need to be a member of AAFS to view the webinar, but you will need to create an AAFS account.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming parts in the Demystifying ISO 21043 webinar series:
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July 16 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET: ISO 21043 Parts 1, 2, and 3
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August 13 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET: ISO 21043 Part 4
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September 10: | Time TBD: ISO 21043 Part 5
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Upcoming Events.
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OSAC Scene SAC and Subcommittee Meetings, July 14-16, 2026, Boulder, CO.
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OSAC Seized Drugs & Toxicology SAC and Subcommittee Meetings, July 28-30, 2026, Mechanicsville, VA.
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International Association for Identification (IAI) 2027 Annual Conference, August 16-22, 2026, St. Louis, MO.
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Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) Quarterly Meeting, September 2-3, 2026, Dulles, VA.
Missed any of our previous issues? Check them out here:
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