Credit: Fred W. Baker/Department of Defense
A forensic DNA analyst prepares a sample for analysis.
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science has placed two new standards covering the interpretation of DNA evidence on its registry of approved standards. This stamp of approval from OSAC, which is administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), indicates that these standards are technically sound and will help forensic laboratories improve their processes and methods.
OSAC is a professional organization whose 550-plus members have expertise in 25 forensic disciplines as well as scientific research, measurement science, statistics, law and policy. OSAC works to strengthen the practice of forensic science by facilitating the development and promoting the use of high-quality, science-based standards.
This milestone is the culmination of an effort that began in 2015. The two new standards were initially drafted by OSAC, then further developed and published by the Academy Standards Board (ASB) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and finally reviewed by OSAC for placement on the registry. The new standards are:
ANSI/ASB Standard 020, Standard for Validation Studies of DNA Mixtures, and Development and Verification of a Laboratory’s Mixture Interpretation Protocol.
ANSI/ASB Standard 040, Standard for Forensic DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocols.
Before laboratories can use a method to analyze crime scene evidence, they must perform validation studies and use the results of those studies to develop a protocol. These new standards include detailed requirements for conducting validation studies, developing protocols from them and verifying that tho ..
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