EN ISO 21043-3:2025

Forensic sciences - Part 3: Analysis (ISO 21043-3:2025)

This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations to safeguard the process for the analysis of items of potential forensic value. It includes requirements and recommendations for the selection and application of suitable method(s) for the analysis to meet the needs of the customer and fulfil the request.
The requirements are designed to ensure the use of suitable methods, proper controls, qualified personnel and appropriate analytical strategies throughout the forensic analysis of items.
This document is applicable to activities conducted by a forensic service provider that occur at the scene and within a facility. This document is applicable to all disciplines of forensic science; however, it is not applicable to the recovery of digital data which is covered by ISO/IEC 27037.
The requirements and recommendations facilitate the comprehensive, accurate and reliable analysis of items.

Forensik - Teil 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025)

Criminalistique - Partie 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025)

Le présent document spécifie les exigences et fournit des recommandations pour protéger le processus d’analyse des traces ou éléments d’intérêt susceptibles d’avoir un intérêt criminalistique. Il comprend des exigences et recommandations pour la sélection et l’application d’une ou de plusieurs méthodes d’analyse appropriées afin de satisfaire aux besoins du client et à la demande.
Ces exigences visent à garantir l’utilisation de méthodes adaptées, de contrôles adéquats, de stratégies d’analyse appropriées et le recours à du personnel qualifié tout au long de l’analyse criminalistique des traces ou éléments d’intérêt.
Le présent document s’applique aux activités menées par un prestataire de services criminalistiques sur la scène (d’incident) et à l’intérieur des installations. Le présent document s’applique à toutes les disciplines de la criminalistique. Toutefois, il ne s’applique pas à la récupération des données numériques, qui est couverte par l’ISO/IEC 27037.
Les exigences et recommandations facilitent l’analyse complète, précise et fiable des traces ou éléments d’intérêt.

Forenzične znanosti - 3. del: Analiza (ISO 21043-3:2025)

Ta dokument določa zahteve in podaja priporočila za zaščito postopka analize predmetov s potencialno forenzično vrednostjo. Vključuje zahteve in priporočila za izbiro in uporabo ustreznih metod za analizo, da bodo izpolnjene tako potrebe stranke kot zahtevek. Zahteve so zasnovane tako, da zagotavljajo uporabo primernih metod in kontrol, usposobljenega osebja ter ustreznih analitičnih strategij v celotnem obdobju forenzične analize predmetov. Ta dokument se uporablja za dejavnosti, ki jih izvaja ponudnik forenzičnih storitev na kraju dogodka in v forenzičnem laboratoriju. Ta dokument se uporablja za vse discipline forenzične znanosti, ne uporablja pa se za obnovitev digitalnih podatkov, ki je zajeta v standardu ISO/IEC 27037. Zahteve in priporočila omogočajo celovito, natančno in zanesljivo analizo predmetov.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Jun-2025
• ICS: 07.140 - Forensic science
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 419 - Project Committee - Forensic science services
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 419 - Project Committee - Forensic science services
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 18-Jun-2025
• Completion Date: 18-Jun-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 21043-3:2025 - Forensic Sciences - Part 3: Analysis (ISO 21043-3:2025)

Overview

EN ISO 21043-3:2025 - Forensic sciences - Part 3: Analysis (ISO 21043-3:2025) specifies requirements and recommendations to safeguard the forensic analysis process for items of potential evidential value. It covers the selection and application of suitable analytical methods to meet customer requests, and sets expectations for method suitability, controls, qualified personnel and analytical strategies. The standard applies to activities carried out by a forensic service provider both at the scene and inside facilities, across all forensic disciplines except the recovery of digital data (see ISO/IEC 27037).

Key topics and requirements

• Documented procedures and method suitability: Procedures for analysis must be documented, appropriate for intended use, and include method limitations.
• Method validation and verification: Analytical methods, software and measurements require validation before implementation; externally validated methods must be verified locally.
• Equipment, calibration and performance checks: Requirements for maintenance, calibration, performance parameters and metrological traceability to support reliable observations.
• Reference and control samples: Use and management of reference samples, control samples, collections and databases to support analytical quality.
• Measurement uncertainty & significant figures: Expectations to assess and report uncertainty where relevant to interpretation.
• Personnel and competence: Qualified examiners and records of who performed analyses and with which equipment/consumables.
• Environmental and facility controls: Consideration of environmental conditions and facility requirements that can affect analytical outcomes.
• Analytical strategy and sampling: Guidance on assessment prior to analysis, method selection, item selection, sampling and preparation.
• Recording, deviations and traceability: Detailed record-keeping of observations, methods, deviations and chain-of-custody elements to support reproducibility and legal defensibility.

Practical applications and users

EN ISO 21043-3:2025 is designed for organizations and professionals involved in forensic analysis, including:

• Forensic service providers and laboratory managers
• Crime scene investigators and evidence recovery teams
• Police forensic units and public forensic institutes
• Independent forensic laboratories and consultants
• Quality managers and accreditation assessors ensuring compliance with forensic standards

Use cases include development or review of laboratory procedures, method selection and validation workflows, preparation for accreditation, improving chain-of-custody practices, and strengthening the scientific defensibility of forensic reports presented in legal proceedings.

Related standards

• ISO 21043-1 - Forensic sciences - Part 1: Vocabulary
• ISO 21043-2 - Forensic sciences - Part 2: Recognition, recording, collecting, transport and storage of items
• ISO/IEC 27037 - Guidelines for identification, collection and preservation of digital evidence (digital data recovery excluded from ISO 21043-3)
• Other parts of the ISO 21043 series (Parts 4 & 5) cover additional forensic-process components

Keywords: EN ISO 21043-3:2025, forensic analysis, forensic science standard, method validation, metrological traceability, analytical strategy, forensic service provider.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2025
Forenzične znanosti - 3. del: Analiza (ISO 21043-3:2025)
Forensic Sciences - Part 3: Analysis (ISO 21043-3:2025)
Forensik - Teil 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025)
Science criminalistique - Partie 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 21043-3:2025
ICS:
07.140 Forenzika Forensic science
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 21043-3
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 07.140
English Version
Forensic sciences - Part 3: Analysis (ISO 21043-3:2025)
Criminalistique - Partie 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025) Forensik - Teil 3: Analyse (ISO 21043-3:2025)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 26 August 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 21043-3:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 21043-3:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 272
"Forensic sciences" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 419 “Forensic Science
Processes” the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2025, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 21043-3:2025 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 21043-3:2025 without any
modification.
International
Standard
ISO 21043-3
First edition
Forensic sciences —
2025-06
Part 3:
Analysis
Criminalistique —
Partie 3: Analyse
Reference number
ISO 21043-3:2025(en) © ISO 2025

ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General requirements . 1
4.1 General .1
4.2 Validation and verification of methods .2
4.3 Equipment and consumables .3
4.4 Calibration and performance checks .3
4.5 Metrological traceability .3
4.6 Reference samples, control samples, collections and databases .4
4.7 Measurement uncertainty and significant figures.4
4.8 Performance monitoring .4
5 Personnel . 5
6 Facilities . 5
7 Environmental conditions . 5
8 Acceptance and rejection of requests and items . 6
8.1 Acceptance and rejection of the customer’s request .6
8.2 Recording of accepted or rejected items .6
9 Analytical strategy . 6
9.1 General requirements .6
9.2 Assessment prior to analysis .7
9.3 Selection of methods .7
9.4 Item selection, sampling and preparation .7
10 Purpose of the analysis . 8
10.1 Classification or identification .8
10.2 Quantification . . .8
10.3 Question of source .8
10.4 Reconstruction .8
11 Reliability of observations . 9
Annex A (informative) Examples . 10
Bibliography .12

iii
ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 272, Forensic sciences, in collaboration with
the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 419, Forensic science
processes, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna
Agreement).
A list of all parts in the ISO 21043 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
Introduction
This document is part of a series that includes the different components of the forensic process from scene
to courtroom. Other parts of the ISO 21043 series are:
— ISO 21043-1;
— ISO 21043-2;
— ISO 21043-4;
— ISO 21043-5.
The examples given in Annex A are provided for information only.

v
International Standard ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
Forensic sciences —
Part 3:
Analysis
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and provides recommendations to safeguard the process for the
analysis of items of potential forensic value. It includes requirements and recommendations for the selection
and application of suitable method(s) for the analysis to meet the needs of the customer and fulfil the request.
The requirements are designed to ensure the use of suitable methods, proper controls, qualified personnel
and appropriate analytical strategies throughout the forensic analysis of items.
This document is applicable to activities conducted by a forensic service provider that occur at the scene and
within a facility. This document is applicable to all disciplines of forensic science; however, it is not applicable
to the recovery of digital data which is covered by ISO/IEC 27037.
The requirements and recommendations facilitate the comprehensive, accurate and reliable analysis of items.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 21043-1, Forensic sciences — Part 1: Vocabulary
ISO 21043-2, Forensic sciences — Part 2: Recognition, recording, collecting, transport and storage of items
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 21043-1 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 General requirements
4.1 General
The procedures, including methods, for the analysis of items shall be documented, suitable for their intended
use and, when applicable, include information regarding:
a) measures that mitigate the risk of loss, degradation, contamination or alteration of items;
b) the selection of methods suitable to address the customer’s request;
c) method limitations;
ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
d) maintenance, operation and calibration of equipment (hardware and software), including relevant
performance parameters that can substantially impact the observations and their interpretation;
e) selection or sampling of items;
f) use of reference samples and control samples;
g) metrological traceability;
h) item preparation;
i) environmental conditions that can substantially impact the observations and their interpretation;
j) activities to demonstrate reliability of the observations;
k) assessment of measurement uncertainty;
l) use of any external service providers.
The examiner shall record the relevant observations, data, information and methods used during
analysis. Information includes reference to uniquely identified equipment and consumables that can
substantially impact the reliability of the observations.
Deviations from a procedure shall be recorded and the record retained.
Refer to ISO 21043-2 for further requirements and recommendations for item handling and control, including
collecting packaging, labelling, transport, storage and chain of custody.
4.2 Validation and verification of methods
4.2.1 Methods, including software, calculations and measurements, shall be validated prior to
implementation. Prior to implementation, methods previously validated elsewhere shall be verified at the
facility where they are to be used, prior to implementation. Off-the-shelf analysis software used within its
intended purpose and scope may be considered sufficiently validated but shall be verified.
Known source items, comparable to those encountered in casework, shall be used for method validation and
verification.
When changes are made to a validated method, the influence of such changes shall be determined and
where they are found to affect the original validation, a new method validation shall be performed prior to
[1]
implementation .
4.2.2 Method validation should include the following performance characteristics, if applicable:
a) precision;
b) accuracy;
c) limit of detection
d) limit of quantitation;
e) specificity or selectivity;
f) calibration;
g) robustness;
h) carry-over or contamination.

ISO 21043-3:2025(en)
4.2.3 Records of method validation and verification shall be retained, e.g. in the form of a validation plan
and a validation report. These shall include:
a) procedure used;
b) specification of the requirements;
c) determination of the performance characteristics of the method;
d) observations obtained;
e) statement on the validity of the method, detailing its suitability for the intended use, relevant limitations
of the method and caveats about its use;
f) identifier of the person(s) who performed the validation
...