OSAC (Organization of Scientific Area Committees)
Definition
NIST's umbrella body for forensic science standards, which includes an Anthropology Subcommittee responsible for developing formal documentary standards for forensic anthropology in the United States.
- Host agency
- US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Relevant unit
- Anthropology Subcommittee
- Output type
- Formal documentary standards for forensic anthropology
- Country scope
- United States
Common questions
Does OSAC certify individual forensic anthropologists?+
No. OSAC develops method and reporting standards; certification of individual practitioners is handled separately, typically by boards such as the American Board of Forensic Anthropology.
How does OSAC differ from an accreditation body like ANAB?+
OSAC writes the technical standards a laboratory can choose to follow, while accreditation bodies audit a laboratory's quality system and can require conformance to specific OSAC-registered standards as a condition of accreditation.
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