AOAC INTERNATIONAL IS AN INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY ASSOCIATION OF ANALYTICAL SCIENTISTS RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE FOR BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS TO REACH CONSENSUS ON THE FITNESS FOR PURPOSE FOR ANALYTICAL METHODS NEEDED IN THE AREAS OF FOOD, AGRICULTURE, BIOLOGICAL THREAT AGENTS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THEN CONDUCTING VALIDATION STUDIES THROUGH THE AOAC OFFICIAL METHODS PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THE METHODS WORK AS INTENDED AND ARE REPRODUCIBLE IN MANY LABORATORIES.