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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

Projects and Programs

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
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
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
Photograph of SRM 972a Vitamin D metabolites in Frozen Human Serum showing a labeled box and four bottles labeled level 1 to level 4.

Vitamin D Metabolites Quality Assurance Program (VitDQAP)

Completed
Interlaboratory comparison studies of the VitDQAP supported the reliability of vitamin D measurements, including determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 3- epi-25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human serum and plasma. Results from the comparison studies helped participants to make

Publications

Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program: Exercise 7 Final Report

Author(s)
Chuck Barber, Carolyn Burdette, Hugh Hayes, Monique Johnson, Shaun Kotoski, Jacolin Murray, Melissa M. Phillips, Kate Rimmer, Andrea Yarberry, Laura J. Wood
The Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program (HAMQAP) was launched in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of

Awards