AOAC CASP Meeting Minutes, March 2020

reasonably be addressed in 2020 and 2021. Audino then opened the floor to discussion. Comments included:

• There are people with little experience doing analysis at the bench. They generate the data but do not necessarily understand what is going on. Basic instrumental technique training would help this. • There are chemists running microbiology tests who do not have the proper knowledge for that. Training on simple skills like pipetting and hands on training for wet chemistry and micro are needed. • To build confidence in the lab you need to look at the total solution, validation is not enough, proficiency and verification training are also needed. • The group could come up with white papers. • Soon there will be AOAC approved methods for this. A module on how to cross-validate and verify would be helpful so people do not have to start from the beginning. • Quality assurance people may not know what lab they should use, and that impacts the results. Demonstrate to QA people that this is a good lab. • Tools and knowledge: CASP could be a good resource for asking the lab the right questions – e.g., what does it mean to have a validated method? • Develop a quality manual, push more labs to have ISO 17025. • Mentorship program • Training and education for upper management so they can understand the value of having a good quality management system. • Quality Control best practices – independent data review is a problem. • More help with the manufactures and customers. They need more guidance to know what to look for if regulators conduct an audit. • Training on cannabis as a finished product – matrices include oils, edibles, flowers, all different applications of the same product. One lab may be trying to run all these tests and it is important for AOAC to start defining matrices for the community. • Even basic math and chemistry skills would be helpful – if people creating the data do not have these skills how can the community be confident in their data?

IX.

Discussion on Next Steps for CASP – Alicia Meiklejohn, AOAC

Meiklejohn thanked the speakers and reminded all attendees of the next steps for the CASP program. She said that the Microbial Contaminants Working Group will continue work on an SMPR for STEC, the Chemical Contaminants Working Group will continue work on an SMPR for mycotoxins, and the Cannabinoids in Consumables working group will revisit the moisture content SMPR before moving on to a discussion on an SMPR for hemp extracts. And the training and education working group will be formally launched within the next two months.

X.

Adjourn

Predecisional Draft, Do Not Distribute

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