AOAC is under contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a project to identify, select, evaluate, and validate immunochromatographic lateral flow devices (also known as hand-held assays; HHAs) for the detection of Bacillus anthracis spores and Ricin from suspicious powders. HHAs will be reviewed by an Expert Review Panel (ERP), comprising nationally recognized scientists, which will recommend at least one candidate method for further evaluation and validation. Successfully validated methods will be granted Official Methods of Analysis^SM status.

Method developers are encouraged to participate by submitting a written description of their methods proposed for evaluation and validation to Scott Coates, AOAC Chief Scientific Officer – Microbiology, at scoates@aoac.org by April 30, 2009. The description of the method, which can be a user manual or package insert, should be accompanied with a summary of any available validation data.

For more information, contact Bob Rathbone, AOAC Senior Director of Publications and Method Validation, at rrathbone@aoac.org.

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