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Standards

Standards education

Agencies need to be familiar with the laws, regulations and guidance that collectively direct federal agencies to participate in the development and use of standards. Understanding the standards development process and being prepared to effectively participate are essential. NIST’s Standards Coordination Office (SCO) offers interactive workshops and seminars for federal, state, and local government agencies on the fundamentals of standards, conformity assessment, and related topics. SCO hosts periodic workshops and training events open to government agency personnel and creates custom training events tailored to meet individual agency needs upon request.

Standards and Conformity Assessment Training for Government Agencies 

 

News and Updates

NIST Office of Weights and Measures Info Hours

2025 NIST OWM “Info Hours” Series

The NIST Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2025 Info Hours series. An Info Hour is a one-hour session that

Events

Blog Posts

A spiral-bound calendar page is blurred at the edges.

Leap Day Is Here: It Doesn’t Have to Be Your Standard Weekday

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Fisheye view of grocery store shelves packed with coffee products.

Weighing Your Purchases: How New Laws May Help You Become a Savvier Online Shopper

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Title card reads "A Scientific Christmas Tale" with the NIST logo in a wreath and flashing holiday lights.

A Scientific Christmas Tale

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Projects and Programs

Breathalyzer

Standards Development to Ensure Reliable Breath Analysis in the Field

Ongoing
Numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been identified in human breath. These compounds can be produced by the body or by organisms in the body (e.g., bacteria or viruses) and provide a non-invasive window into human health. Inexpensive point-of-care devices are being developed to diagnose
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
OWM Laboratory Metrology Training for mass metrology

OWM Training Program: Metrology, Metrication, and More!

Ongoing
OWM offers a variety of in-person, online, and "blended" training classes and materials that provide guidance instruction on national legal metrology standards, weights and measures field inspection procedures, and laws and regulations related to packaging and labeling. OWM provides technical

Publications

Awards