AOAC SPADA Meeting

Background

Cont… Recommendations to evaluate candidate assays using soil samples was added to Part 2 of the Environmental Factors appendix in 2017: 2.2: Soil Testing “Airborne soil particles may constitute a significant challenge to the analysis of collected aerosol samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Soils contain genomic materials or nucleic acid fragments of countless archaebacterial, bacterial, and eukaryotic organisms. Some of the more common soil organisms can be anticipated. Soils may also contain unanticipated components that interfere with extraction, denaturation, polymerization, or annealing reactions. Therefore, determining the effect of a variety of representative soils on the robustness of a PCR assay is an important first step.” However, instructions in the Soil Testing section are extremely limited because there was not a consensus on how to conduct soil testing , nor what kinds of soil samples to use (T&E; assay development; industry/gov’t)

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Background

Soils are very complex and unique

In US alone, over 19,000 soils have been identified The study of soil science includes taxonomy, chemistry, physics and biology in addition to agricultural and conservation practices.

Soil are: •Plant growth medium •Regulator for water supply •Recycler of raw materials •Habitat for Soil Organisms •Engineering Medium •Environmental interface

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nj/soils/?cid=nrcs141p2_018867

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