ASB Newsletter – August 8, 2025

New ASB Standards Published!

• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practice Recommendation for the Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear and Tires, Second Edition, 2025
• ANSI/ASB Standard 202, Standard for Interactions Between Medicolegal Death Investigation Authorities and Organ and Tissue Procurement Organizations and Eye Banks, First Edition, 2025
• ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 209, Best Practice Recommendation for Communicating with Next of Kin during Medicolegal Death Investigations, First Edition, 2025
• ANSI/ASB Standard 216, Standard for Construction of Multilocus Databases, First Edition, 2025

To date, the ASB has published over 130 Standards/Best Practice Recommendations and Technical Reports. All ASB standards can be accessed through the ASB site.  

ASB Documents Open for Public Comment

The ASB encourages all interested parties to provide comments on documents in progress.

The following documents are open for public comment:

• ASB Std 032, Standard for a Bloodstain Pattern Analyst's Training Program, Second Edition (Comment Deadline, September 8, 2025)
• ASB Std 037, Standard for Reports and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology, Second Edition (Comment Deadline, August 11, 2025)
• Recirculation* - ASB Std 195, Standard for Scene Response: Initial Response by Scene Investigators (Comment Deadline, August 11, 2025)
• ASB TR 214, Forensic Anthropology: Terms and Definitions (Comment Deadline, August 18, 2025)

* Please note that comments on a recirculation will only be accepted on revised sections of a document, comments made to text not revised from the previous public comment period will not be accepted.

The documents and additional information on the ASB can be accessed through the ASB website  

ASB Standards Included FIU Research Forensic Library

This library is a curated collection of publicly-accessible articles, reports, drug monographs, controlled substance notifications, historical documents, and other material relating to every discipline of the forensic sciences. The Library provides access to groundbreaking research and to historical articles, all available for free. There are currently over 7,600 articles and reports in the library, with more added every day. Visit the Library here! 

Checklists Available on Forensic Standards
These Checklists provide a tool to allow a forensic science service provider to evaluate the level of standard implementation and/or audit conformance to a standard.  Each checklist, provided in Excel, uses a standardized format that also allows flexibility when used. Checklists are in continuous production with more coming soon! Visit the AAFS Standards Resources and Training site to access the Checklists!

AAFS Factsheets on ASB, ASTM, and NFPA Standards Available
The AAFS Standards Factsheets provide a concise summary of each standard and facilitate broader understanding, they also highlight the purpose of a standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. Factsheets are in continuous production and more are coming soon. Visit the AAFS Standards Resources and Training site for more details!

Standards Webinars on AAFS Connect
AAFS Connect is the hub of digital forensic science content provided by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. AAFS Connect hosts conference workshops, presentations, webinars, educational training, and other resources. Webinars and updates on Forensic Standards are now available in the Standards Videos portion of AAFS Connect, free of charge. Visit the AAFS Educational Webinars page for more details!