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Material Measurement Laboratory / Chemical Sciences Division

Organic Chemical Metrology Group

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 29
CCQM Intercomparisons

CCQM Activities in the Organic Analysis Working Group

Ongoing
The results from these studies will be used to demonstrate the capabilities of participating NMIs for their similar measurement services, and eventually benchmark the appropriate  Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) that summarizes this capability.  NIST CMCs that directly support SI
Photograph of a unit of SRM 3950 showing a labeled box and two frost covered amber bottles.

Clinical Measurements Quality Assurance Program

Ongoing
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established the Clinical Measurements Quality Assurance Program (ClinQAP) to support the measurement needs of the clinical community. Participants measure concentrations of marker compounds, contaminants, metabolites in clinical samples (e.g
component 1

Consistency Analysis and Uncertainty in ‘omic Data

Ongoing
‘Omics is increasingly moving out of the laboratory and towards use in industrial and commercial applications. For instance, in biomanufacturing, there is a need for quality control when developing biotherapeutics, which will almost certainly require a machine-learning classifier to separate
Photograph of SRM 3950 Vitamin B6 in Frozen Human Serum with labeled box and frosty capped bottles containing level 1 and level 2.

Development of Serum-Based SRMs to Assess Nutritional Status

Ongoing
Vitamin deficiencies are generally considered rare in the U.S., but a growing body of evidence suggests that certain deficiencies may be more prevalent than originally thought. For example, it has been estimated that 10 % to 15 % of adults over the age of sixty are affected by vitamin B 12
Dietary QAP

Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (DSQAP)

Ongoing
Approximately 75% of the U.S. population takes dietary supplements, including vitamins and mineral supplements, representing an annual expenditure of more than $20 billion. Regulations, driven by reported cases of inaccurate labeling, adulteration, contamination (with pesticides, heavy metals, or
Photograph of SRM 2378 Fatty Acids in Human Serum showing three vials labeled Serum 1, Serum 2, and Serum 3.

Fatty Acids in Human Serum and Plasma Quality Assurance Program (FAQAP)

Completed
Interlaboratory comparison studies of the FAQAP focused on the measurement of 24 fatty acids in selected serum and plasma matrices. Frozen or freeze-dried serum or plasma samples were sent to laboratories for analysis together with control materials. Results were returned to NIST for data evaluation
Food Nutrition Safety QAP

Food Nutrition and Safety Measurements Quality Assurance Program (FNSQAP)

Ongoing
As part of a revamp of QAPs in 2021, NIST established the FNSQAP to support the NIST Food Safety Program and Measurements and Standards to Support Nutrition Labeling. Participants measure nutrient components (e.g., minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, dietary fiber) and contaminants (e.g., toxic
Circle with the logo of Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program initials

Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program (HAMQAP)

Completed
Participants in the HAMQAP measured concentrations of nutritional and toxic elements, fat- and water-soluble vitamins, fatty acids, active and/or marker compounds, and contaminants in samples distributed by NIST.   Samples that represent human intake (e.g., foods, dietary supplements, tobacco) were
Map of the world, with six colors used to identify the six regional metrology organizations.

International Comparisons for Chemical Measurements

Ongoing
International agreements and decisions concerning trade and our social well-being increasingly require mutual recognition of measurements and tests among nations. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on national measurement standards and calibration and measurement certificates issued by NMIs

Measurements and Standards for Botanical Dietary Supplements

Ongoing
Many consumers believe that botanical dietary supplements will improve their health and that these "natural" remedies are both effective and free from the side effects that may occur with other medications. There are occasional reports of inaccurate labeling, adulteration, contamination (with
Food Triangle

Measurements and Standards to Support Nutrition Labeling

Ongoing
Well-characterized certified reference materials are needed by laboratories in the food testing and nutrition communities to facilitate compliance with labeling laws and improve the accuracy of information provided on product labels so that consumers can make good choices. As a result of the
MANTA Logo

Method Assessment for Non-Targeted Analyses (MANTA) Program

Ongoing
Typical targeted analysis aims to detect and/or quantify a set of known chemical compounds using specific instrumental techniques (such as liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry). In contrast, non-targeted analysis is an analytical technique that detects, identifies, and/or
Photograph of a dog sniffing luggage.

Metrology and Standards for Canine Olfactory Detection of Explosives

Effective and accepted by the public, trained dogs are the most frequently deployed detection systems for identification of explosives threats in mobile applications. In addition to being highly sensitive, dogs can rapidly discriminate the unique profile of an explosive in a presence of a large
MMQAP figure

Micronutrients Measurement Quality Assurance Program (MMQAP)

Completed
The MMQAP supported the long-term (months to years) reliability of selected fat- or water-soluble vitamin measurements in human serum and plasma. Results from the comparison studies helped participants to make accurate clinical and health-care decisions as well as to maintain and improve their
Two-dimensional chromatogram showing the separation of four compounds as shaded elliptical areas

Multidimensional Chromatography

Ongoing
The development of robust analytical methods remains one of the most important (and costly) parts of chemical metrology. The separation of targeted constituents from other components in a sample matrix is necessary for accurate and precise measurements. Multidimensional chromatography is an
Montage of photographs depicting eggs, almonds, grain, milk, strawberries, fish, peanuts, and soybeans.

NIST Food Protein Allergen Program

Ongoing
Food allergen management is an increasingly important economic and public health concern; therefore, accurate and reliable allergen measurements are a crucial component of the management pathway. Traditional methods for food allergen detection are based on immunoassay techniques and are linked to a
photo collage of meats, cheese, eggs, fish, and shellfish

NIST Food Safety Program

Ongoing
The Food Safety Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides advanced analytical chemistry and quantitative biology to ensure that food is free of contaminants and allergens and is authentic, promoting U.S. manufacturers’ participation in domestic and foreign markets
NIST PS1

NIST PS1 Primary Standard for quantitative NMR (Benzoic Acid)

Completed
With explicit SI linkage, the overall impact of this apical reference material is profound—this primary standard, as well as forthcoming members of its class, provides technology transfer of chemical purity realization to the commercial sector for characterization of many thousands of organic
Cannabis

NIST Tools for Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance

Ongoing
Since the 1970s, cannabis (marijuana and hemp) and its constituent, Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, have been classified as Schedule I controlled substances. Seized evidence is tested by forensic laboratories, which verify the identity of the plant through macro- and microscopic evaluation and the