|
|
DisplayTitle AACC Laboratory Proficiency Rating Program (LPRP)
Page Content 
NEW SERIES: ALTERNATIVE FLOUR (ALTFLR)! Subscribe today to receive bimonthly samples of flour from pulses, grain, and cereal sources other than wheat, such as peas, quinoa, and lentil. Analyses include moisture, protein, ash, dietary fiber, total starch, and more.
Participation in a proficiency rating program is a key quality requirement for analytical testing laboratories. Established in 1948, The AACC Laboratory Proficiency Rating Program provides an essential tool for food and feed laboratories worldwide.
This Program enables subscribers to assess and meet their quality standards by evaluating the accuracy and consistency of laboratory results. It offers samples of current interest, proficiency rating reports, and awards.
Become a Subscriber or RenewCorporate Subscribers
The Program
The AACC Laboratory Proficiency Program provides samples pertaining to analyses of current interest that enable laboratories to: - Verify laboratory equipment operation
- Monitor the use of correct analytical techniques by laboratory personnel
- Verify the reliability of contract laboratories
- Ensure the accuracy of labeling information
- Identify opportunities to improve laboratory quality
What You Can ExpectAs a subscriber to the Laboratory Proficiency Rating Program, your laboratory will receive: -
Samples
- Sent monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly
-
Protocols
- The Protocol includes the list of analyses, award criteria, special instructions, an example of the data entry portal, the current calendar with dates for sample shipping, dates for access to the data entry portal, reporting due dates, and report publication.
- Protocols are available within the data portal.
-
Confidential Data Submission
- Confidential access to the data portal where participants log in and submit results.
- Participants can also access their historical reports.
-
Reporting
- Reports are published according to the Series Schedule found in each Protocol.
- Reports contain results of all participating labs as well as summary statistics including consensus values, standard deviation, z-scores, and Kernel Density plots.
- Reports are prepared using ISO 13528 robust statistics.
Available SeriesWe offer various samples to meet diverse laboratory needs within the following categories: Flour Analysis, Label Analysis, Rheology Testing, and Food Safety. A description of the samples offered within each series can be found below. Sample fees vary depending upon the nature of the analytical procedures involved, the frequency, and the subscribers' location. See order form for current pricing. Shipping rates are calculated on a per-shipment basis and will vary depending on your location and the total number of shipments you will receive. Shipping will be combined wherever possible.
Become a Subscriber or RenewCorporate Subscribers
|
Series Code |
Sample Type |
Frequency |
Analyses | HW1
| Hard Wheat Flour Sample | Monthly | Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Wet Gluten, Dry Gluten, Gluten Index | HW2
| Hard Wheat Flour Sample | BiMonthly | Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Diastatic Power
| | SW1 | Soft Wheat Flour Sample | BiMonthly | Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, pH | | ALTFLR | Non-Wheat Flour. Sources include chickpea, corn, lentil, oat, pea, quinoa, rice, et | BiMonthly | Moisture, Protein, Ash, Soluble Dietary FIber, Insoluble Dietary Fiber, Total Dietary Fiber, Total Starch, Water Holding Capacity, Screen Test | SEM
| Durum Semolina Sample | BiMonthly | Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Speck Count, Screen Test, Minolta Color |
|
Series Code |
Sample Type |
Frequency |
Analyses | SUGAR
| Grain-Based Food for Sugar Analysis | Monthly | Moisture, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Maltose, Lactose | VMP
| Grain-Based Food or Pet Food for Analysis of Proximates, Vitamins and Minerals | BiMonthly |
Proximates Moisture, Ash, Protein, Crude Fat (EE), Crude Fat (AH)
Vitamins Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin
Minerals Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Sodium, Selenium, Chromium
| | DF | Grain-Based or Pulse-Based Food for Dietary Fiber Analysis | BiMonthly | Moisture, Soluble Dietary Fiber, Insoluble Dietary Fiber, Total Dietary Fiber, Beta-Glucan | | GF | Grain-Based Food Sample to measure Gluten Content | BiMonthly
| Gluten (Gluten-Free Label) | | FEED | Grain-Based Feed or Pet Food Sample | BiMonthly | Moisture, Protein, Ash, Crude Fat (EE), Crude Fat (AH) |
|
Series Code |
Sample Type |
Frequency |
Analyses | | MICRO1 | Flour Sample for Microbiological Analyses | Quarterly | Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Yeasts, Molds, Aerobic Plate Count, Coliforms,
E.Coli | | MYCO | Ground Whole Grain for Mycotoxin Analysis
(Corn, Wheat, Distillers Grains, Barley)
| Quarterly | Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, DON/Vomitoxin, Zearalenone | EXTRA
| Flour Sample for Extraneous Material | Quarterly | Extraneous Material Analysis with Review by Expert Authority |
|
Series Code |
Sample Type |
Frequency |
Analyses | | ALV | Flour Sample for Alveograph | BiMonthly | Alveograph Analysis | AMYL
| Flour Sample for Amylograph | BiMonthly | Amylograph Analysis
| FARS
| Flour Sample for Farinograph (Small Bowl) | BiMonthly | Farinograph Analysis, Valorimeter | | FARL | Flour Sample for Farinograph (Large Bowl) | BiMonthly | Farinograph Analysis, Valorimeter
| | MIXO | Ground Whole Grain for Mixograph | BiMonthly | Moisture, Mixograph Absorption, Water Temp., Time to Peak Height, Height of Curve at Peak & 8 Min, Descending Slope | | RVA | Flour or Starch-Blend Sample for RVA Analysis | BiMonthly | Moisture, Stirring Number, 13-Min Pasting
|
Proficiency RatingsProficiency Reports are available in all Series subscriptions except for EXTRA. In addition to comparing results with other laboratories, you will receive quantitative estimates of laboratory accuracy via the reports. Annual certificates are issued to laboratories that demonstrate excellent performance during the year.
How Proficiency Ratings WorkOur Proficiency Rating utilizes the internationally recognized z-score in determining accuracy assessments. Results from each Series subscription are compiled and distributed to all subscribers, maintaining participant confidentiality. All subscribers are eligible and automatically considered when they submit results for all rounds in all Program Series. When you subscribe to the Laboratory Proficiency Rating Program, you will receive z-value reports at regular intervals throughout the year to enable you to check on your progress. Accuracy Scores will be calculated for subscribers who have submitted data in all rounds for all analytes across the calendar year. Laboratories who have submitted for all rounds in a calendar year can earn award certificates depending on the level of their accuracy. - Laboratories who obtain an adjusted mean z-score of less than 2.00 earn a
proficiency rating of satisfactory for accuracy
- Laboratories who obtain an adjusted mean z-score of less than 1.00 earn a
proficiency rating of outstanding for accuracy
The z-score represents the number of standard deviations a single result, or series of results, differs from the true value as represented by the respective mean. Outliers are removed from the series of results when determining the z-score (and attract a penalty). Laboratory accuracy is determined by the deviation of observed analytical results from the grand mean of all participating laboratories.
Certificates and AwardsAll analyses reported by the subscriber will be included in the Proficiency Rating Program Certificate Status Calculations. Results must be reported for each round of the program from January to December of the certificate year. Refer to the current Series Protocol for the required analytes and Group 1 or Group 2 details. Participation certificates will be available upon request for current subscribers. Results for all rounds of the specified group of analytes must be reported. Details on qualifications are outlined in the latest version of the Series Protocol.
|
