AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) invites method developers to submit methods for First Action consideration and possible evaluation through the AOAC Official MethodsSM program. Prospective methods must meet the minimum Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs®) for the Determination of Selected Trace Elements in Foods and beverages outlined in AOAC SMPR 2025.003 and can utilize inductively coupled plasma-based mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or an alternative analytical technique that meets the performance requirements.
Method Eligibility
An eligible method must meet the various parameters outlined in the SMPR® and must be reliable, repeatable, and ultimately reproducible when used by trained analysts. Reference the SMPR® for definitions and the proposed method validation requirements for parameters, such as limit of quantification, recovery, repeatability, reproducibility, system suitability, and reference materials. Any method that meets the performance requirements
is acceptable.
Interested method developers must provide their method and accompanying validation set (at minimum a single laboratory validation study) demonstrating that the method can meet the performance requirements. If accepted, method authors will have 2 years to complete a multi laboratory validation study.
AOAC Method Submission Requirements and Deadlines
- Candidate methods must be submitted in AOAC Official Methods of AnalysisSM (OMA) format, AOAC Formatting Guidelines. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- The story of how and why the candidate method must be submitted as a manuscript in Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL (JAOAC) research article format, NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Method validation data, statistical analysis, and safety checklist must also be included for submission and review.
- If you need assistance putting your method or data into the correct format, AOAC provides a formatting consulting service for a fee, please contact Science Programs for more information.
- Full single laboratory validation is the minimum requirement at this stage (for First Action consideration for chemistry methods), followed by a reproducibility study within 2 years, if accepted, for Final Action consideration.
- Method application fees are waived for methods submitted prior to the deadline in response to this Call.
- Methods and manuscripts must be submitted by January 15, 2027.
Submitting a Method
Please refer to the AOAC Official Methods of AnalysisSM website for more information.
Submit your method(s) for First Action status consideration. (Email submissions will not be accepted). Please use the OMA METHOD SUBMISSION APPLICATION.
For assistance, please contact [email protected] with “Method Submission Question” in the subject line.
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