October 10, 2022

DEADLINE:  ONGOING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

AOAC Official Methods of Analysis℠ (OMA) Program

Determination of A1- and A2-type β-casein in infant formula, adult/pediatric formula and select milk and milk products

AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) invites method developers to submit methods for consideration and possible evaluation through the AOAC Official MethodsSM program. Prospective methods must be able to measure the amount of bovine A1- and A2-type β-casein found in all forms of infant, adult, and/or pediatric formulas.  Methods with an expanded applicability to select milk and milk products (milk powder, milk protein concentrate, and UHT milk) are highly encouraged for submission.

For the purpose of this call for methods, A1-type β‐casein is defined as full-length variants of β‐casein that contain histidine at amino acid position 67, including, e.g., phosphorylated and glycated proteoforms. A2-type β‐casein is defined as full-length variants of β‐casein that contain proline at amino acid position 67, including, e.g., phosphorylated and glycated proteoforms. Bovine β-casein is defined as sequence that represents the secreted, full-length bovine A2 β-casein after signal peptide removal. Multiple variants are known for β-casein. according to the published Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®), AOAC SMPR 2022.005.

Access the SMPR

SELECT MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

In collaboration with ISO/TC 34/SC 5 (Milk and milk products) and the International Dairy Federation (IDF), AOAC invites method developers to submit methods for the determination of A1/A2 beta-Casein in both infant formula (according to the SMPR) and in milk and milk products of interest to ISO/TC 34/SC 5 and IDF: Milk powder, Milk protein concentrate, UHT milk (provided samples can be analyzed during an MLT of the method).

Method Eligibility

The intended use of the method determined to meet the SMPR and fulfilling the ERP recommendations is for Reference Method for Dispute Resolution as designated by Codex as Type II status for bovine A1 and A2 beta-casein. Acceptable methods must be reliable, repeatable, and ultimately reproducible when used by trained analysts in accredited laboratories.

Reference the draft SMPR for definitions and the proposed method validation requirements for parameters such as analytical range, limit of quantitation, recovery, repeatability and reproducibility, system suitability and reference materials. Any analytical technique that meets the method performance requirements is acceptable.

Interested method developers must provide their method and data demonstrating that the method can meet the SMPR requirements for determining bovine A1- and A2-type β-casein in infant formula and adult/pediatric formula. For those methods with an expanded applicability, sufficient data is required to demonstrate satisfactory method performance for determining bovine A1- and A2-type β-casein in milk powder, milk protein concentrate, and UHT milk.

AOAC Method Submission Requirements and Deadlines

Method authors may submit methods for review to the Official Methods of Analysis℠ (OMA) program.

Official Methods of Analysis (OMA) Program

  • Candidate methods must be submitted in AOAC OMA format, and the data submitted as a manuscript in Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL format. No exceptions. Please see the Access to Method Submission Form below as it contains information on requirements for submission, including format information and method safety.
  • Full single laboratory validation required followed by a reproducibility study.
  • Application fees apply for rapid commercial proprietary methods only.
  • Methods and manuscripts must be submitted by specified deadlines.

DEADLINE:  ONGOING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Submit your method

Submit your method(s) for First Action status consideration. (Email submissions will not be accepted).

INFORMATION ON METHOD SUBMISSIONS:

For general information or comments on the Official MethodsSM Program, contact Deborah McKenzie at [email protected].

METHOD SUBMISSION APPLICATION:

For general questions on submitting methods for infant formula and adult nutritionals, contact Delia Boyd at [email protected].

Access SMPR

Click below to view Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR):

AOAC SMPR® 2022.005 – Standard Method Performance Requirements for Determination of A1/A2 beta-Casein in Infant Formula and Adult/Pediatric Formula