What is this standard about?
This is Part 14 in a series of standards on formats for the exchange of biometric data. This part defines a format for the exchange of human DNA identification data to enable the exchange of DNA data from different systems.
Who is this standard for?
- Producers and suppliers of biometric data devices and associated software
- Users of biometric data interchange formats
- Conformance and testing organizations associated with biometric data
- Police forces and forensic science laboratories
Why should you use this standard?
It defines DNA attributes and a data record format for the exchange of DNA data. It includes a sample record and conformance criteria.
The data interchange format standard is based on DNA data from forensic DNA typing techniques that are standardized and are the most commonly used, namely STR profiling and other DNA typing techniques standardized by scientific bodies for the purpose of discriminating between individuals.
Standard profiling systems exploit the non-coding regions of DNA that are referred to as “junk DNA”. The coding regions are deliberately avoided in order to maintain the privacy and civil rights of the donor. However, national data protection and privacy legislation may impose special security safeguards, such as encryption of data transfers or storage.
A single DNA data record for a subject may require data resulting from more than one of these different DNA techniques. This standard enables data from multiple DNA techniques to be presented in a single record for a given subject.
The data format has been prepared in light of ongoing efforts to reduce human involvement in the processing (enrolment and comparison) of DNA. In anticipation of the data format requirements for automated DNA techniques, the standard describes a format for both processed and raw (electrophoretic) DNA data.
Applications claiming conformance with this part of ISO/IEC 19794 shall be capable of presenting DNA biometric data as defined by this standard. Minimum conformance shall require the ability to transmit (exchange) and extract interoperable DNA biometric information.
What’s changed since the last update?
This first amendment to Part 14 of BS ISO/IEC 19794 supersedes the 2013 version of the standard which is withdrawn. It implements ISO/IEC amendment 1:2016 which principally made changes in the Annexes on:
- Conformance testing methodology
- DNA WML schema
- Pedigree tree construction