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Request for Collaborative Study Participants

TTB's Scientific Services Division (SSD) is initiating collaborative projects for multi-lab validation of a number of analytical methods that are used by the Bureau for regulatory compliance and tax classification of nonbeverage alcohol products. We are looking for domestic and international laboratories (governmental, academic, commercial, industry, etc.) who might be interested in participating in these collaborative projects. Among the methods which we targeted for multi-lab validation in 2011 are:

  • Gas chromatograph (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID) to detect and quantify specified flavor chemicals in nonbeverage alcohol products;
  • GC with mass spectrometer (MS) to detect and quantify specified flavor chemicals in nonbeverage alcohol products; and,
  • GC coupled to both MS and FID to detect and quantify specified flavor chemicals in nonbeverage alcohol products.

SSD's Nonbeverage Product Laboratory (NPL) recently developed and validated (single lab) these methods. Since these methods employ GC in conjunction with FID and/or Mass Selective Detector (MSD), a participating laboratory must have these capabilities. A laboratory can participate in one or more collaborative projects. We plan to start these projects in early March 2011. After we identify the laboratories for the projects, we will send the following:

  • Detailed step-by-step procedure of the method;
  • Blanks and quality control samples;
  • Test samples; and
  • Instructions on how to report results and data.

We invite you to participate in these collaborative studies and it would be our privilege to have you as a partner in this project. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact NPLCollaborativeStudy@ttb.gov. Thank you for your consideration.

Sample Chromatagrams