October 25, 2024

Rockville, Maryland, October 25, 2024— AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) is a recent recipient of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) grant for development of testing standards for illicit drugs, including fentanyl, xylazine, and nitazenes. This grant will support a new collaborative scientific initiative to address the need for standards that define the desired performance of lateral flow immunoassay test strips to detect illicit drugs in tablets and powders. These test strips fill a need for rapid testing capability for field use. AOAC will utilize its well-developed and collaborative process in concert with NIST scientists and a panel of experts to create voluntary consensus standards to meet this need as a part of this one-year grant.

According to Ed Sisco, PhD, Research Chemist with NIST, “Test strips are a critical tool for public health, law enforcement, and others to detect fentanyl, xylazine, and other illicit drugs in samples. Currently, no standards or requirements for test strips used for drug checking exist, which presents several challenges including understanding what other chemicals a test strip will cross-react with or whether environmental storage conditions affect performance. By establishing minimum performance requirements, both manufacturers and end-users will be better positioned to ensure that test strips are fit-for-purpose, and the limitations are known.”

“AOAC has significant experience in partnering with government agencies and addressing their needs for development of voluntary consensus standards and validated test methods,” says Katerina Mastovska, PhD, AOAC’s Deputy Executive Director & Chief Science Officer. “This grant will deliver standards, which will support appropriate validation of test strips, ensuring reliable detection of illicit drugs in tablets and powders. We are excited to collaborate with NIST and other stakeholders on addressing this important public health and safety issue.” 

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About AOAC INTERNATIONAL

Founded in 1884 with our beginnings in the USDA and US FDA, AOAC INTERNATIONAL is an independent, non-profit membership association of analytical science professionals in government, industry, and academia worldwide. Our mission is to advance food safety and product integrity through standards, validated test methods, and laboratory quality programs. We publish outcomes, including Official Methods of AnalysisSM, in the Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL and provide laboratory proficiency testing programs. AOAC also facilitates collaboration and training of scientists and other stakeholders to address challenges with sustainable analytical solutions. For more information, please visit AOAC.org

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Contact: Margaret Bell, Communications Manager
Phone: (240) 801-8646
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