Call for Comments: SPADA Working Group II

DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 23, 2022 

The AOAC Stakeholder Program on Agent Detection Assays (SPADA) Working Group (WG) II, Standards for NGS Biothreat agent detection-amplicon and metagenomic recently completed its development and review of the draft standard, Amplicon Sequencing Minimal Information (AsqMI): Quality and Reporting Guidelines for Actionable Calls in Biodefense Applications and is now accepting public comments. 

Comment Process 

The public comment period is open through Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Comments will be compiled and reconciled.  The document may be revised, if necessary, based on comments received. 

Please see the AOAC SPADA WG II Draft Standard for Comment 

Comments must be submitted using the Comment Form provided. Marked up documents will not be accepted. 

Comment Guidelines: 

1. For specific comments, state the page number and the line number and/or range of line numbers in each document for which the comment applies. 

2. Provide rationale as to why the editor should consider the comment. 

3. Specify if the comment is an editorial, technical/scientific, or general.
   • Editorial comments provide additional clarification or correct typographical errors. Please suggest alternative wording or corrections if you have an editorial comment. 
   • Technical or Scientific related comments provide technical or scientific clarity and comprehensiveness. Please suggest the appropriate technical language. Documents will be reviewed by AOAC and the working group chair(s) for accuracy and clarity. 
   • General comments reflect a perspective on content documented/undocumented in the drafts. Please provide language that documents the perspective or position. 

All comments are due by Wednesday, November 23, 2022. The AOAC team will address all questions and reserves the right to not accept comments received after this deadline. 

Questions? Please contact Saliha Argubie, AOAC Program Coordinator, Standards and Official Methods, at [email protected].