Trace Subgroup

Trace Evidence Guidelines

Trace evidence examination sample
Standardized methodologies for trace evidence examination and analysis.

Process To Create

  • To provide a standardized methodology for the hair examination process
  • Drafts offered to community for comment
  • Comments reviewed by the trace subgroup and incorporated or denied
  • All changes presented to the full SWG for their review
  • Final draft voted on by full SWG - If approved, submitted to ASTM for incorporation
  • Enforcement - Voluntary

Documents

Trace Evidence Quality Assurance Guidelines

Education requirements, ethics, validation, proficiency tests and other topics relative to quality assurance are included.

Trace Evidence Proficiency Testing Guidelines

Details to ensure a usable and applicable testing sample for inclusion in a proficiency test. To include descriptors on various options for testing.

Expert Reporting Guidelines

Details to ensure a usable and applicable testing sample for inclusion in a proficiency test. To include descriptors on various options for testing.

Trace Evidence Recovery Guidelines

Details on techniques that should be employed when collecting trace evidence. Explanations are provided to assist in the section of the appropriate methodology.

ASTM Standards

E1492 - 11 Standard Practice

Standard Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory