New ASB Standard 199 Sets Requirements for Familial DNA Searching in Forensic Laboratories

The Academy Standards Board (ASB) announced on November 13, 2026, that ANSI/ASB Standard 199, Standard for Familial DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. Read Full Definition Searching, First Edition (2026), has been approved for publication and is available. The development is relevant to laboratories using forensic DNA databases to investigate possible biological relatives of an unknown contributor. It places particular emphasis on documented policies, validationValidation, often referred to as method validation, is a crucial process in the laboratory when introducing a new machine, technology, or analytical technique. It involves a series of systematic steps and assessments to ensure that Read Full Definition, training, reporting, privacy and confidentiality.

The announcement is new this week. It should not be confused with the introduction of familial searching itself, which has been used in some jurisdictions for years. Nor does publication of a consensus standard mean every forensic database is automatically authorized to conduct such searches.

What is familial DNA searching?

Familial DNA searching is an investigative database-search strategy intended to identify potential close biological relatives of an unknown person whose DNA profile is associated with an investigation. Rather than asking only whether a crime-scene STR profile matches a database profile, a specially designed search evaluates whether a database profile might belong to a biological relative of the unknown contributor.

Such searches can generate investigative leads. A candidate relative is not thereby identified as the source of the evidentiary DNA. A familial association must be evaluated using appropriate statistical methods, database policies, case circumstances and subsequent independent investigation. A putative relationship does not establish involvement in an offence.

What does ANSI/ASB Standard 199 require?

According to the official ASB standard page, laboratories performing familial DNA searches must maintain a policy specifying criteria across six areas:

1. Request acceptance: conditions under which a familial-search request may be considered.
2. Administrative responsibilities: the organizational structure and accountability for the search.
3. Search process: documented procedures for performing the analysis.
4. Reporting: how search results are communicated.
5. Privacy and confidentiality: safeguards for individuals whose profiles or potential familial relationships may be implicated.
6. Training: preparation of individuals who evaluate familial-search results.

The ASB also explicitly states that Standard 199 defines validation requirements for familial DNA searches. Laboratories should consult the full published document to determine the detailed requirements, rather than treating this summary as a substitute for the standard.

What is outside its scope?

The scope exclusions are important. ASB states that Standard 199 does not apply to forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). FIGG commonly involves genetic genealogy approaches and different dataInformation in analog or digital form that can be transmitted or processed. Read Full Definition types or databases; it is not interchangeable with a familial search of a conventional forensic STR database.

The standard also excludes the investigation of partial matches encountered during ordinary forensic database searches. A partial match arising incidentally in a routine search should not automatically be described as a formal familial DNA search conducted under Standard 199.

Why privacy safeguards matter

Familial searching may draw investigative attention to people who have not contributed DNA to the database and are not suspects. Family relationships may be uncertain, and genetic evidenceEvidence is any form of proof, such as objects, materials, or scientific findings, presented to establish or disprove a fact in a legal proceeding. It is used to reconstruct events and link or exclude individuals Read Full Definition can reveal sensitive connections. Consequently, an effective policy must address who may authorize a search, who may receive its results and how sensitive information is protected.

These safeguards are not simply administrative formalities. They help prevent the misleading presentation of a database lead as a conclusive individual identification. The standard’s explicit reference to privacy and confidentiality is therefore a central feature of its scope, not an optional afterthought.

What should forensic laboratories review?

For laboratories already authorized to conduct familial searching, the publication offers a timely reason to review their procedures. The following questions can guide an internal gap assessment:

• Are search eligibility and authorization criteria written and consistently applied?
• Are the computational methods, performance characteristics and relevant limitations validated and documented?
• Do training and competency records address the evaluation of familial-search results?
• Does the report clearly distinguish a candidate-relative lead from a confirmed source attribution?
• Are confidentiality, access controls, retention and information-sharing procedures appropriate to applicable laws and policies?
• Are database-specific and jurisdictional restrictions considered before any search is conducted?

This is a suggested review framework, not a claim that each question reproduces the exact normative wording of Standard 199. AccreditationAccreditation – a process by which a laboratory must prove to an accrediting agency that their processes, equipment, and employees are competent, credible, and accurate. The accrediting agency will inspect the laboratory and observe its Read Full Definition or legal obligations depend on the jurisdiction, applicable requirements and organizational adoption decisions.

What does the announcement mean for casework?

Standardization can improve the consistency and auditability of investigative methods, but it does not independently establish their accuracyIn scientific and measurement contexts, "accuracy" refers to the degree of proximity or closeness between a measured value and the true or actual value of the measured quantity. Accuracy indicates how well a measurement reflects Read Full Definition or guarantee that a search will produce a useful lead. Familial searches are sensitive to the composition of the database, the strength and quality of the underlying genetic data, the analytical approach and the population-genetic assumptions employed. False leads and uncertain relationships must remain part of interpretation and communication.

It is also essential to distinguish database searching from the later examination of reference samples and other evidence. Any investigative lead requires further corroboration. A relative’s database profile is not itself proof of another person’s identity or guilt.

For broader context, readers can consult Simply Forensic’s guide to forensic kinship and paternity testing, and its discussion of SNPs and forensic genetic genealogy. These subjects are related but involve distinct investigative and statistical questions.

Publication date and primary references

The AAFS/ASB newsletter dated November 13, 2026 announced the newly published standard. The official ANSI/ASB Standard 199 page identifies it as the First Edition (2026), describes its policy and validation scope, and provides access to the standard. This article reports the announcement and publicly stated scope; it does not assert that the standard is newly mandated in every jurisdiction.