The prior long-held standard for scientific evidence and expert witness testimony was determined in 1923 in the landmark Frye case (Frye v. United States, 54 App. D.C. 46, 293 F. 1013). Under Frye, methods used by the expert witness had to gain "general acceptance" within the scientific community. A longstanding concern over the standard established in Frye has been that new methods, findings and testing procedures could be excluded if they have not yet achieved "general acceptance" status within the relevant field.

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