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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Perform forensic microscopic identification and individualisation of hair 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243247  Perform forensic microscopic identification and individualisation of hair 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forensic Science 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  20 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Qualifying learners are capable of performing microscopic identification and individualisation of hair. These competencies will be used within the forensic biological industry in order to provide results in forensic examinations. These results may possibly be used in the judicial process. Learners will be able to differentiate between human and animal hair and will be able to use the identified human hair for individualisation and identification purposes.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Apply microscocopy principles on hair comparisons.
  • Select and evaluate hair samples for microscopic examination.
  • Explain hair morphology.
  • Identify animal hair.
  • Individualise human hair.
  • Make forensic findings on hair comparison examinations. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Biology at NQF Level 4. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard should be conducted taking into account laboratory quality assurance practices pertaining to hair comparisons.

    In this unit standard given situation may refer to but is not limited to a structured scenario, a case study and a virtual presentation, actual or real situation. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Apply microscopic principles on hair comparisons. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The use of microscopes when performing hair comparisons is explained in terms of their operating principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Troubleshooting on the instruments is demonstrated in a given situation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Select and evaluate hair samples for microscopic examination. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A medium conducive for mounting hair is evaluated to ensure effective use of microscopic examinations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of mounting and demounting hair specimen onto slides are evaluated for suitability during microscopic examinations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Scale casts and cross-section quality of hair are evaluated for suitability for further microscopic examination. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Scale casts to include hair from different species and types.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Explain hair morphology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Principles of hair morphology are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Effects of natural hair mutation and diseases on hair are evaluated in order to determine degradation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Mutations and diseases will also include other anomalies in the hair shafts.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Factors which influence the morphological appearance of hair is explained with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Influence refers to but is not limited to internal and external factors.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Hair from different regions of the body are evaluated in order to determine their differentiating factors. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify animal hair. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Types of animal hair includes pets kept commonly in South Africa and wild animals indeginous to Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Features distinguishing animal hair from human hair is evaluated in a given suituation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Animal hair is macroscopically identified for further microscopical examination. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Identification must refer to hair length, hair shape and root appearance, tip appearance and color.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Animal hair is micrscopically identified in given situations. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Individualise human hair. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Macroscopic features of human hair areevaluated in a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Features refer to but are not limited to hair length, hair shape and root appearance, tip appearance and color.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Features of human hair are evaluated in order to individualize the hair sample. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Features include but are not limited to hair diameter, pigment features, medulla classification, cortical features and cross sections.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Hair is microscopically examined in order individualize hair in a given situation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Make forensic findings on hair comparison examinations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The evidential value of hair is evaluated in given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Results from hair comparisons are interpreted in order to make recommendations for forensic investigations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Results of hair comparisons include case scenarios from the following:
  • That the questioned hair and known hair exhibit thesame microscopic characteristics (no significant differences are present); or significant differences are present.
  • The questioned hair exhibits both similarities and differences to the known hair and, accordingly.
  • The questioned hair is micrscopically dissimilar to the known hair.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A forensic finding is made from the results in order to include or exclude an individual. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Findings must include case scenarios from the following:
  • The hair is consistent with originating from source of the known hairs.
  • The hair in question could have originated from the source of the known hairs.
  • No conclutions can be reached as to whether or not the hair originated from the source of the known hairs.
  • The hair in question could not have origininated from the source of the known hairs.
  • The questioned hair cannot be associated to the source of the known hairs.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Findings in hair-comparisons examinations are cross-examined in a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Findings in hair-comparisons examinations is justified in a given situation. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.
  • Assessors must be competent in the outcomes of this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Hair comparison principles and examination procedures to identify and individualise hair for different specie.
    > Protocol for forensic hair examinations for human and animal hairs.
    > Handling and preparation of hairs for identification, characterization and comparison.
    > Illustrate an understanding of quality management to interpret the results and authorise the report findings to be conveyed to the clients.
    > Judicial procedure pertaining to forensic evidence.
    > Evidential value.
    > Concept of refractive index.
    > Optimizing the optics and light path of the of the microscope.
    > Magnification, principles and the maintenance polarized light.
    > Stereo, compound and comparison microscopes.
  • Hair morphology.
    > Embryology.
    > Composition of hair and hair shaft.
    > Structure and development of hair follicles.
    > Structure of hair shaft.
    > Chemical components.
    > Major components of hairs.
    > Types of hair.
    > Hair growth.
    > Distribution patterns.
    > Hair colours and differences between different body hairs.
    > Hair cycle and the dynamics thereof is evaluated in terms of average growth cycle of hair and loss of hair.
  • Underlying examination philosophy.
  • Examination protocol.
  • Value of hair examinations.
  • Factors influencing negative hair comparisons, hair characteristics, variances along the length of the same hair.
  • Hair originating from caucausian, or mongolian, or negroid.
  • Obeservations on micrscopic characteristics:
    > Cuticles and scales (colour, thickness, texture, looping,damage,separation/protrusion of scales).
    > Cortex (pigment size, density,distribution, ovoid bodies, cortical fusi, texture).
    > Medulla (continuous/discontinuous/trace, thickness, amporphous opaque, clear/cellular, texture).
    > Other considerations (artifacts, egg cases, diameter and diameter variation, buckling, root appearance).
    > Known sample and adequate hair sample collection. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
  • Identifying and solving problems in which responses display the responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking.
  • Utilize appropriate standard operating procedures to achieve desired outcomes, in line with international accepted forensic practice. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organize oneself and one's activities so that all requirements are met when conducting forensic examinations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organize and critically evaluate information pertaining to hair examinations. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  57977   National Certificate: Forensic Biology  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.