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Material Measurement Laboratory

Biomolecular Measurement Division

News and Updates

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NIST’s ‘Living Reference Material’ Could Accelerate R&D of Lifesaving Biological Drugs

September 8, 2025

The NIST reference material, called NISTCHO, will help the biopharmaceutical industry develop new drugs more quickly and ensure that they are safe and effective

A woman wearing a lab coat and safety glasses stares into a large microscope.

New NIST Reference Material to Strengthen Quality Control for Biological Drugs

July 31, 2025

Impurities in these drugs can cause undesirable immune responses in patients and can significantly drive up costs for drug manufacturers.

New NIST Research Grade Test Material to support mRNA therapeutics

July 14, 2025

Messenger RNA ( mRNA)-based therapies require a careful assessment of Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) using various analytical techniques, to ensure

STRBase Web Resource Update

July 1, 2025

A significant update was undertaken to modernize STRBase and make it more user-friendly. This project aimed to ensure that the website remains a relevant and

This AAV vector is a bumpy sphere that looks like it's made up of tiny crumpled black and white tubes.

Study Highlights Need for Standardized Measurement Methods in Gene Therapy

January 6, 2025

Scientists looked at multiple techniques used to measure the modified viruses deployed in some gene therapy research and treatments.

Researcher working in lab with safety glasses and gloves

NIST Develops Genetic Material for Validating H5N1 Bird Flu Diagnostic Tests

January 2, 2025

To bolster the nation’s preparedness for a pandemic, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a synthetic, nonhazardous genetic

Historical photo shows Henry Moseley in a lab holding a glass globe on a stand.

Henry Moseley and the Periodic Table of the Elements

February 6, 2024

World War I, Gallipoli front, the allied forces consisting of the soldiers from Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand attacked and partly occupied the

A researcher leans close to an open boxlike device, handling small tubes and vials inside.

NIST Develops Human Urine Standard for More Accurate Diagnosis of Kidney Disease

December 7, 2023

The standard will improve clinical measurements and support decisions for diagnosing kidney disease.

A close-up of a virus particle shows spikes protruding from the particle's surface and blobby sugars that cling to the spikes.

New NIST Method Can Better Identify Sneaky Sugars on Viruses’ Spiky Weapons

September 28, 2023

A better picture of the sugars can increase our understanding of how humans get infected by the virus behind COVID-19 and other pathogens.

Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Monitoring

August 8, 2023

Kidney disease is a major global public health issue, with c hronic kidney disease (CKD) representing the 12 th highest cause of death worldwide. It has been

A gloved hand holds a glass flask partly full of pinkish liquid, with a label in marker saying in part "NISTCHO RCB."

NIST, Partners Develop Living Reference Material for Producing Monoclonal Antibodies

January 11, 2023

Publicly available NISTCHO cell line expands the biomanufacturing and research applications of NIST’s monoclonal antibody standard, NISTmAb.

Alex Grishaev leans over a counter full of scientific equipment, looking down at his work.

Spotlight: NIST Researchers Analyze the Novavax Vaccine From Multiple Angles

August 29, 2022

A team of three NIST researchers, each with unique expertise, is studying a vaccine developed by biotech company Novavax for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes

NIST Issues the First Standard Reference Material for the Quantitative Analysis of Glycans

August 3, 2022

NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3655 helps biopharmaceutical manufacturers perform measurements of glycan molecules in their protein drug products

a picture of packaging for NIST SRM 2367JC Virus DNA Quantitative Standard

A NIST Standard for More Accurate Diagnoses of JC Virus

July 19, 2022

A new NIST Standard Reference Material supports the accurate measurement of the amount of a common but potentially dangerous virus in patients. Most of us have

Megan Cleveland with white lab coat and safety glasses in front of a lab bench with pipettes.

RNA Reference Materials Are Useful for Standardizing COVID-19 Tests, Study Shows

January 20, 2022

Scientists track and monitor the circulation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using methods based on a laboratory technique called polymerase

New NIST Reference Material Helps Manufacturers Better Assess Their Biological Drug Products

November 15, 2021

Sugars not only provide nourishment in the food you eat but can also act as biomarkers for detecting disease. When certain types of simple sugars, such as

NIST’s Reference Material Supports Anti-Doping Efforts in International Sports

August 4, 2021

This summer has been exciting for sports enthusiasts: Many athletic events are back in full swing, and the Olympic Games are finally taking place after being

A multicolored sphere made up of a dense network of colored ribbons against a black background.

New Collaboration Aims to Improve Measurement of Viral Vectors Used in Cutting-Edge Gene Therapies

July 27, 2021

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing

A woman wearing purple gloves adjusts tubing inside a scientific device.

Spotlight: Screening for Kidney Disease With Accurate Measurements

April 15, 2021

If you have a fear of needles, getting a urine test is a pain-free way for doctors to screen for kidney disease or any signs of kidney damage. Clinicians

NIST Puts New Biopharmaceutical Quality Control Method to the Test

March 29, 2021

A new method for monitoring biopharmaceutical product quality was recently put to the test by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and 28

A red cylinder made of lipids has five protruding multicolored proteins.

NIST Clarifies Structure of Prospective Vaccine for Respiratory Virus

December 16, 2020

No approved vaccine exists for RSV, a life-threatening virus that attacks the respiratory system. State-of-the-art neutron and X-ray scattering performed at the

A medical worker administers a nasal swab test to a person in a car.

NIST Innovation Could Improve Detection of COVID-19 Infections

October 5, 2020

A multidisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a way to increase the sensitivity of the primary

woman stands at mass spectrometer machine

NIST Expands Database That Helps Identify Unknown Compounds in Milk

July 27, 2020

Got milk? Most people have seen the famous ads featuring celebrities that highlight the importance of drinking milk for building strong bones. Research shows

Woman uses gas analysis mass spectrometer at NBS for chemical analysis of gas or vapor mixtures

NIST Adds New 'Fingerprints' to Chemical Identification Database

June 17, 2020

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its database of chemical fingerprints, called mass spectra, that are used to identify

A Solution to a Hairy Problem in Forensic Science

November 5, 2019

In an effort to make hair comparison a more useful technique for investigating crimes, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

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