AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) invites method developers to submit methods for the determination of total amino acids and/or free amino acids in foods, with an emphasis on novel foods and ingredients for First Action consideration and possible evaluation through the AOAC Official Methods℠ program.
This Call for Methods encompasses two recently approved Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs®):
Method developers may submit:
- Preferred Submission: A single method addressing both total and free amino acids and meeting the applicable requirements of both SMPRs;
- A method meeting the requirements of AOAC SMPR® 2026.005 for Total Amino Acids; or
- A method meeting the requirements of AOAC SMPR® 2026.006 for Free Amino Acids
***While methods addressing either SMPR individually are eligible for submission, a single method capable of determining both total and free amino acids is preferred.
Any analytical technique that meets the applicable method performance requirements is acceptable. Formatted methods and manuscripts must be submitted by April 2, 2027. For formatting guidelines, please see below.
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 Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC INTERNATIONAL (OMA) format, AOAC Formatting Guidelines. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- The story of how and why the candidate method was developed and validated 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 Friday, April 2, 2027.
Submitting a Method
- Please refer to the AOAC Official MethodsSM Program 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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