ASTM E3175-23
(Practice)Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
Standard Practice for Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 A training program provides the theoretical foundation and practical skills necessary for a trainee to become a qualified forensic hair examiner.
4.2 A trainee is directly supervised by a qualified examiner throughout their training. At the end of the training program, a successful trainee is capable of forming opinions, presenting and explaining evidence, and understanding the limitations of analytical results and interpretations based upon sound scientific knowledge, validated procedures, and practical experience.
4.3 A trainee is required to meet the minimum training criteria in Practice E2917 and this practice. It is the laboratory management’s responsibility to ensure the selected trainee has the appropriate educational background. It is recommended that, at a minimum, the trainee possess a bachelor’s degree in a natural science.
4.4 This document outlines lessons, practical exercises, and criteria to monitor and evaluate trainee progress and is designed to be incorporated into an overall laboratory training program.
4.5 Additional training beyond that which is listed here should be made available to the trainee. Such training might include off-site courses, internships, and specialized training by experienced examiners. Continuing education and training will provide a forensic examiner the opportunity to remain current in the field.
4.6 Additional analyses can be performed on hairs that have been chemically altered (for example, dyed hair) or have trace materials on the surface (for example, glitter). Such techniques are beyond the scope of this document.
4.7 This practice addresses the benefit of following microscopical examinations with DNA analysis.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers training guidelines for use by forensic laboratory personnel responsible for training forensic examiners that will perform hair examinations, including microscopical comparisons of human hair.
1.2 Forensic hair examiners are trained in accordance with Practice E2917 and the discipline-specific guidelines (Guide E3316) and criteria within this practice.
1.3 This practice contains guidelines that include the tasks, goals, and objectives that allow the trainee to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently perform casework in the microscopical examination of hair.
1.4 This practice addresses the correlation between the analytical results of microscopical examinations and the potential for DNA analysis.
1.5 This practice addresses training for the microscopical examination of hairs and not the examination of chemical alterations (for example, hair dye) or trace materials on the surface of hairs (for example, hair care products).
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3175 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
1
Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3175; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
nical Experts
1.1 This practice covers training guidelines for use by
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related
forensic laboratory personnel responsible for training forensic
Documentation
examiners that will perform hair examinations, including
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
microscopical comparisons of human hair.
Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
1.2 Forensic hair examiners are trained in accordance with
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
Practice E2917 and the discipline-specific guidelines (Guide
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
E3316) and criteria within this practice.
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
Programs
1.3 This practice contains guidelines that include the tasks,
goals, and objectives that allow the trainee to acquire the E3316 Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Micros-
copy
requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently
perform casework in the microscopical examination of hair.
3. Terminology
1.4 This practice addresses the correlation between the
analytical results of microscopical examinations and the po-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
tential for DNA analysis.
practice, refer to Terminology E1732.
1.5 This practice addresses training for the microscopical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
examination of hairs and not the examination of chemical
3.2.1 anagen, n—the active growth phase of a hair follicle in
alterations (for example, hair dye) or trace materials on the
the hair growth cycle.
surface of hairs (for example, hair care products).
3.2.1.1 Discussion—The root from a pulled anagen hair is
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
elongated and is usually fully pigmented.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.2 ancestral group, n—a biogeographic designation of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
human populations (for example, Asian, African, European)
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
whose hair can share similar morphological and microscopic
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
traits.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.2.1 Discussion—The racial terms Caucasoid,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Mongoloid, and Negroid should not be used as these terms are
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
no longer acceptable in the field of anthropology (the field from
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
which these designations originated).
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2.3 association, inclusion, n—the result of a comparison
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
between two hair samples in which the characteristics of the
2. Referenced Documents
questioned hair are present in the known hair sample without
2 any exclusionary differences and, therefore, the donor of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
known sample can be included as a possible source of the
questioned hair.
1
3.2.3.1 Discussion—A microscopical association of hair
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
cannot identify the definitive source of a questioned hair to the
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2023. Published October 2023. Originally
exclusion of all others and the number of individuals who
approved in 2022. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as E3175 – 22. DOI:
could be included as a possible donor of a specific hair is
10.1520/E3175-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or unknown and cannot be reliably estimated.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3.2.4 buckling, n—an abrupt change in the shape and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. orientation of a hair shaft with or without a slight twist.
Copyrigh
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E3175 − 22 E3175 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
1
Training in the Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3175; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers training guidelines for use by forensic laboratory personnel responsible for training forensic examiners
that will perform hair examinations, including microscopical comparisons of human hair.
1.2 Forensic hair examiners are trained in accordance with Practice E2917 and the discipline-specific guidelines (Guide E3316)
and criteria within this practice.
1.3 This practice contains guidelines that include the tasks, goals, and objectives that allow the trainee to acquire the requisite
knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently perform casework in the microscopical examination of hair.
1.4 This practice addresses the correlation between the analytical results of microscopical examinations and the potential for DNA
analysis.
1.5 This practice addresses training for the microscopical examination of hairs and not the examination of chemical alterations (for
example, hair dye) or trace materials on the surface of hairs (for example, hair care products).
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Technical Experts
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
E1732 Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training, Continuing Education, and Professional Development Programs
E3316 Guide for Forensic Examination of Hair by Microscopy
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2022Oct. 1, 2023. Published January 2023October 2023. Originally approved in 2022. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as
E3175 – 22. DOI: 10.1520/E3175-22.10.1520/E3175-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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E3175 − 23
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology E1732.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 anagen, n—the active growth phase of a hair follicle in the hair growth cycle.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
The root from a pulled anagen hair is elongated and is usually fully pigmented.
3.2.2 ancestral group, n—a biogeographic designation of human populations (for example, Asian, African, European) whose hair
can share similar morphological and microscopic traits.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
The racial terms Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid should not be used as these terms are no longer acceptable in the field of
anthropology (the field from which these designations originated).
3.2.3 association, inclusion, n—the result of a comparison between two hair samples in which the characteristics of the questioned
hair are present in the known hair sample without any exclusionary differences and, therefore, the donor of the known sample can
be included as a possible source of the questioned hair.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—
A microscopical association of h
...
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