AOAC International Association

AOAC International (Association of Official Analytical Chemists International) (2000), Official Methods of Analysis cf AOAC International, 17th Edn (Horwitz W, Ed.), Gaithersburg, MD, USA. 

AOAC, The Association of Official Analytical Chemists International, describes methods for analyzing a wide range of materials. These methods are often adopted by other organizations and government regulatory agencies as standards. 

Established in 1894, AOAC International is an independent association of scientists and organizations in the public and private sectors devoted to promoting methods validation and quality measurements in the analytical sciences. AOAC has a mission to ensure the development, testing, validation, and publication of reliable chemical and biological methods of analysis for foods, drugs, feed-stuffs, fertilizers, pesticides, water, forensic materials and other substances affecting public health and safety and the environment. 

Membership of EURACHEM is open to all EU/EFTA countries and the Commission of the European Communities. Other European countries may participate in EURACHEM as Associate Members and representatives of organizations. Eor example, AOAC International and the Federation of European Chemical Societies (EECS) can attend EURACHEM meetings as observers. All delegates to the EURACHEM Committee are eligible to voice their opinions and participate in projects of interest. 

Garfield, F., Klesta, M. E. and Hirsch, J., Quality Assurance Principles for Analytical Laboratories, 3rd Edition, ISBN 0-935584-70-6, Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, 2000. 

Association of Official Analytical Chemists International (AOAC International) Committee European Norms (CEN)... 

IUPAC, ISO, and AOAC International International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, International Organisation for Standardization, and Association of Official Analytical Chemists MU 4,8,16,17... 

Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International (2000), Method validation programs (OMA/PVM Department), including Appendix D Guidelines for collaborative study procedures to validate characteristics of a method of analysis, available http //www.aoac.org/vmeth/devmethno.htm. 

C. Carceles, E. Escudero, J.M. Serrano, and J.D. Baggot, Proc. of the 6th EAVPT Inter. Congress (P. Lees, Ed.), European Association for Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Edinburgh, UK, p. 211 (1994). M. Horie, in Chemical Analysis for Antibiotics Used in Agriculture (H. Oka, H. Nakazawa, K.-L Harada, and J.D. Macneil, Eds.), AOAC International, Arlington, p. 168 (1995). 

Cunniff, P. (ed.) 1998. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 16th ed., 4th revision. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, Md. 

AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) International 1995. Method 942.04 Chlorophyll in plants Spectrophotometric method of total chlorophyll and the a and b components. In Official Method of Analysis, 16th ed. AOAC International, Arlington, Va. 

AOAC (2005). AOAC official method 960.09. In "Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International", G. W. Latimer and W. Horwitz (Eds.), 18th edn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD. 

Officials from the CFSAN and the CVM also participate in the development of standards by such domestic and international groups as the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), AOAC International (previously, the Association of Official Analytical Chemists), expert committees of the WHO, FAO, ISO, and other international consensus standards bodies. Standards developed by these organizations are used by industry, both in the United States and abroad. These standards provide industry with guidance for food grade materials and processes, and thus help elevate the quality of food and food chemicals in domestic and international trade. 

The Technical Services function of AOCS establishes, revises, and annually updates AOCS Methods, the Official Methods and Recommenced Practices of the American Oil Chemists Society22 for fats, oils, and soap technology Spanish AOCS Methods, a Spanish translation of the more commonly used AOCS Methods and Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Oils, Fats and Waxes. Leaders of the methods development committees coordinate closely with AOAC International (formerly the Association of Official Analytical Chemists). AOCS Methods are recognized as Official Methods in US FDA activities and when litigation becomes necessary in industry trade. Additionally, the Technical Services function operates a Laboratory Proficiency Program (formerly the Smalley Check Sample Program) and oversees distribution and statistical analysis of 30 different series of basic laboratory quality assur-ance/quality control test samples. Certification as AOCS Approved Chemists, or as AOCS... 

Due to the demand for reliable and comparable methods, performance requirements have been established at a national and international level for implementation of official methods, e.g. by European legislation, by the CEN or the Association of the Analytical Communities (AOAC) International, and worldwide by Codex Alimen-tarius (CAC). Thus any method proposed to be used for official purposes must be validated in a collaborative trial study, resulting in defined method performance characteristics [4], The framework for the design and conduct of such collaborative trial studies, as well as the statistical evaluation, are also defined in appropriate protocols [5]. Any method that has been successfully validated according to these protocols can be recognised as an official method for use in legal cases or for international trade control purposes. 

In samples 1, 4, 6, and 10, the expected activity is 5000 NLU/g, whereas in the rest of the samples the expected activity is 2000 NLU/g. The data presented are averages of two replicates samples. The underlined data were later identified as outliers and were not used in further calculations. Intralaboratory (RSDr) and interlaboratory (RSDr) precision values are also shown. [Reprinted, with permission, from A. J. Engelen and P.H.G Randsdorp, Journal of AOAC International 82 No. 1, 1999, 112—118. Determination of Neutral Lactase Activity in Industrial Enzyme Preparations by a Colorimetric Enzymatic Method Collaborative Study . 1999 by Association of Official Analytical Chemists.]... 

AOAC International. (AOAC) Formerly called the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. It was founded in 1884. There are 4000 members. These scientists develop, test, and study... 

The International Association of Official Analytical Chemists adopted an SPE method with the use of prepacked diatomaceous cartridges (50 mL) performing elution of the analyte with dichloromethane for determination of EC in alcoholic beverages (AOAC, 1995). 

Many professional societies have specified definite instructions for sampling given materials [e.g., the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM www.astm.org). the Association of Official Analytical Chemists International (AOAC International www.aoac.orgl. and the American Public Health Association (APHA www.apha.orgll. By appropriate application of experience and statistics, these materials can be sampled as accurately as the analysis can be performed. Often, however, the matter is left up to the analyst. The ease or complexity of sampling will, of course, depend on the nature of the sample. 

Many of the analytical methods used for environmental samples are approved by federal agencies such as EPA and NIOSH. Other methods included are those approved by groups such as AOAC International and the American Public Health Association. Additionally, analytical methods that modify previously used methods to obtain lower detection limits and/or to improve accuracy and precision are referenced. 

Association of Analytical Communities (2003b). Guidelines for Single Laboratory Validation of Chemical Methods for Dietary Supplements and Brdanicals. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD. 

---