Rockville, Maryland, October 6, 2026 — AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) has received a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) grant to develop performance standards and validation guidance for fieldable colorimetric tests used to detect drugs.
Often called “spot” or “color” tests, colorimetric field tests are widely used by law enforcement, border security, forensic personnel, and other practitioners because they are rapid, simple, and low-cost. However, the tests rely on a human operator’s interpretation of a color change, and independent reviews have raised concerns about their selectivity, sensitivity, and reliability. The initiative will establish fit-for-purpose requirements to support more consistent, scientifically defensible use of these tests in the field.
The initial scope is expected to include fentanyl and other opioids, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine in solids and residues, as well as liquids where applicable. Additional analytes may be considered for inclusion in this standard.
The project will produce three primary deliverables:
- Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs®) establishing performance criteria for colorimetric field-test methods;
- A Standard Protocol defining study designs and data collection requirements for validating candidate methods against the SMPR; and
- A peer-reviewed open access article in the Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL describing the scientific basis for the standards and the development process.
The work builds on an earlier AOAC–NIST collaboration completed in October 2025. That project produced AOAC SMPR® 2025.002 and AOAC SP 2025.001 for field-based detection of benzodiazepines, fentanyl, medetomidine, nitazenes, and xylazine using immunoassay- and aptamer-based lateral flow or test-strip technologies.
“Fieldable color tests are widely used for the rapid, presumptive identification of drugs, and the utility of these tests in an increasingly diverse and complex drug supply is understudied,” said Ed Sisco, PhD, Research Chemist with NIST. “The development of standards that can be used to understand the effectiveness of these tests and be applied to the varied test kits available in a uniform manner can better inform best practices for implementation.”
“By establishing clear performance and validation expectations for colorimetric field tests,” emphasized Katerina Mastovska, PhD, AOAC’s Deputy Executive Director and Chief Science Officer, “the new initiative will help method developers demonstrate that their technologies are fit for purpose and provide end users with greater confidence in the scientific scrutiny behind rapid drug testing.”
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About AOAC INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1884 with beginnings in the USDA and US FDA, AOAC INTERNATIONAL is an independent, non-profit membership association of analytical science professionals across government, industry, and academia worldwide. Its mission is to advance food safety and product integrity through standards, validated test methods, and laboratory quality programs. AOAC publishes outcomes in the Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, and its methods and standards in the Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL. It also provides laboratory proficiency testing programs and facilitates collaboration and training of scientists and other stakeholders to address challenges with sustainable analytical solutions. www.aoac.org
