AOAC OMB Nomination Review (June 12, 2019)

AOAC International

May 30, 2019

Official Methods Board

2275 Research Blvd. Suite 300

Rockville, Maryland 20850

RE: Letter of Recommendation for membership on Official Methods Board

Dear Sir/Madame:

My purpose in writing this letter is to recommend Patrick Bird for membership on the AOAC International Official Methods Board (OMB). I have worked with Pat at Q Laboratories for over twelve years, and I am impressed with the depth of his scientific knowledge and involvement in technical working groups. Pat’s activities include the AOAC Research Institute Board of Directors (Director at Large 2015 to 2018), AOAC International Stakeholder Panel for Alternative Methods (ISPAM), Quantitative Statistics for Microbiological Methods, US Technology Advisory Group to ISO Technical Committee (TC) 34, Food Product Subcommittee (SC) 9 on Microbiology (2014-Present). In addition, Pat was recently appointed to A2LA Accreditation Council. A twelve-year member of AOAC, Pat is familiar with Official Methods process, co-authoring numerous publications in the JOAC, and sharing the following AOAC awards: • AOAC Collaborative Study of the Year - TEMPO® TVC for the Enumeration of Aerobic Mesophilic Flora in a Variety of Foods (Official Method SM 2008.10). Awarded September 14, 2009 at the AOAC Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. • AOAC Multilaboratory Study of the Year –Evaluation of the VIDAS UP Listeria Assay (LPT) for the Detection of Listeria in a Variety of Foods and Environmental Surfaces: First Action 2013.10 Evaluation of VIDAS Listeria monocytogenes Xpress (LMX) for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a Variety of Foods: First Action 2013.11 Awarded September 8, 2014 at the AOAC Annual Meeting. Boca Raton, FL. • AOAC Multilaboratory Study of the Year – Confirmation and Identification of Salmonella species, Cronobacter species, and Other Gram-Negative Organisms Bruker MALDI Biotyper Method First Action 2017 and Confirmation and Identification of Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria species, and Other Gram-Positive Organisms Bruker MALDI Biotyper Method First Action 2017 Awarded August 2018 at the AOAC Annual Meeting. Toronto, CA.

Based on his technical expertise, and knowledge of the OMA process, I feel Mr. Bird will be a valuable addition to the OMB.

Sincerely,

James Agin Member, Official Methods Board, 2000-2012