AOCS Division Newsletter




	printer-friendly version . send feedback on this newsletter AOCS Agricultural Microscopy Division Newsletter November 2007 AOCS Agricultural Microscopy Laboratory Proficiency Program Series Gary Ideus, Program provider The Agricultural Microscopy laboratory proficiency program is just one of many services offered by AOCS. This program offers an excellent opportunity for the microscopist to test his or her skill level with peers in their chosen field of expertise. The program usually starts in September and ends in April of the following year. Six samples are submitted to the participant for microscopic evaluation. Five of the test samples are commercially manufactured feeds and one is a lab mix containing various common and uncommon feed ingredients. Most of the ingredients can be easily identified using a low magnification stereomicroscope. Especially difficult are ingredients that can only be observed by using compound microscopy, or by chemical spot test, tools some individuals may not have access to. Participants list all the ingredients they can positively identify using a directory of over 300 ingredient names compiled from AAFCO and Canadian feed definitions. This program is very user-friendly, allowing participants to easily report their results online. To enroll in an AOCS Laboratory Proficiency Program, please contact AOCS Technical Services at Mail: P.O. Box 17190 Urbana, IL 61803-7190 USA, Phone: +1-217-359-2344, Fax: +1-217-351-8091, E-mail: technical@aocs.org or on the web at www.aocs.org/tech/lpp.asp. Last year's laboratory proficiency program consisted of sixteen participants from four different countries and a U.S. territory. Most did very well identifying the major ingredients, but seemed to have trouble identifying the more obscure, especially those found in very small quantities. The Agricultural Microscopy Division of AOCS periodically sponsors short courses, which are an invaluable way to attain the knowledge needed to be a first-rate microscopist. The three top scorers for the 2006-2007 program were: Mike Bucker, Division of Consolidated Laboratories of Virginia, Richmond VA USA Piotr Czajkowski, Provimi Polska Holding, Osnowd Poland And Neil Vary, Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Canada There is also one who received Honorable mention. Elizebeth Krzykwa, Ottawa Laboratory (Carling), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Canada Also in this newsletter: Let Us Share the Light, by Patricia Ramsey In Focus, by Marge McCutcheon, Chair Division Profile, by Catherine Watkins Division Representative Meeting, by Neil Vary Preview of Agricultural Microscopy Division Technical Sessions Planned for the 99th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, by Neil Vary Microscopy Websites Agricultural Microscopy Division web page AOCS, 2710 S. Boulder, Urbana, IL 61802-6996 USA	Division Officers Chairperson Marge McCutcheon phone: 304-558-2208 fax: 304-558-3594 Vice Chairperson Neil Vary phone: 613-792-3432 fax: 613-759-1260 Secretary/Treasurer Christine Rogers-Kelly phone: 662-325-0638 fax: 662-325-7807 Member-at-Large Jim Makowski phone: 717-796-0537 fax: 717-796-0537 Member-at-Large Annie Fournier phone: 613-759-1221 fax: 613-759-1260 Member-at-Large Gary Ideus phone: 217-222-7100 fax: 217-231-2141 Member-at-Large Beth Anne Woody phone: 765-494-1573 fax: 765-494-4331 Past Chair/Prog.Comm. Patricia Ramsey phone: 916-457-5115