Our Organization

Analytical Excellence through Industry Collaboration (AEIC) is a consortium of more than 30 corporate, public and scientific organizations and individual members dedicated to establishing immunochemical, nucleic acid and other bioanalytical methodologies as recognized analytical tools for agricultural, environmental and biotechnology applications.  Government agencies also regularly participate in AEIC meetings and activities. AEIC is a diverse organization and includes technical experts on analytical methodology, particularly for proteins, nucleic acids and plant composition from reagent and equipment manufacturers, testing laboratories, contract research organizations, technology providers in agriculture, biotechnology and food industries.

AEIC holds two meetings each year–one in the spring and one in the fall.  Organization business and intiatives are discussed as well as trending topics and new technology.  Invited speakers address many of these topics of interest to the membership.

AEIC membership (go to “Membership” for application form) is available at the:

  • Full member level
  • Associate member level 
  • Individual member level

Full member level is available for those industry companies with an interest in the development and/or use of bioanalytical methods in the agricultural, biotechnology and environmental industries.

Associate level memberships are for staff and/or faculty of academic institutions having an interest in the development and/or use of bioanalytical methods in the areas of agricultural, biotechnology and environmental industries.

Individual level memberships are available for those persons who do not have any company or academic affiliation but would like to participate in AEIC as a voting member.

AEIC encourages the participation of government agencies at the semi-annual meetings.

AEIC Brochure (Click here)

Our Mission

To advance and support all bioanalytical technologies, the AEIC:

  • Provides a forum and consensus voice for applications to agricultural, biotechnology and environmental industries
  • Develops educational programs
  • Furnishes scientific expertise
  • Establishes performance standards for bioanalytical, nucleic acid and immunochemical methods

 

AEIC Accomplishments

Establish Guidelines and Standards

  • AEIC Composition Working Group developed and validated Enzyme-Linked Lectin Analysis (ELLA) method which was accepted as an official method of AOCS in 2017.
  • AEIC supports and is active, through its members, in the ISO standards setting process, most notably TC 34 SC 16 Molecular Biomarker Analysis and sampling for GMO detection.
  • AEIC has been instrumental in ensuring that the testing standards developed for PCR and protein methods are workable and globally relevant.
  • AEIC publishes peer-reviewed globally relevant papers on a variety of topics related to best practices in using analytical methods (see “Resources” section).
  • AEIC worked with EPA to develop validation guidelines for environmental applications of immunochemical methods for use in studies to support pesticide registrations.
  • AEIC worked to establish voluntary performance standards for immunoassay kits.
  • AEIC collaborated with University of Nebraska to develop guidelines for testing GM crops and grain using lateral flow devices.

Our History

The need to have an organization to foster immunoassay testing in food and environmental matrices became apparent at an EPA-sponsored Immunochemistry Summit in Las Vegas during June, 1992. During the meeting, a high level of interest in immunoanalytical applications for the food, agricultural and chemical industries, as well as the regulatory community, was acknowledged. However, it was also recognized that several critical issues needed to be addressed in order for immunoassay to successfully gain widespread acceptance. These included:

  • Better communication among kit developers, users, and regulators
  • Development of standards and regulatory guidelines for acceptance of immunoassay data
  • Educational programs for regulators and new users
  • Polices to safeguard the quality of dozens of commercial immunoassay kits, as well as the applications which were being developed that utilized the kits.

Representatives from over 25 industrial, academic and government organizations subsequently met several times to address the issues identified during the EPA Summit. These meetings led to the establishment of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium (AEIC) in 1993. Membership in the AEIC was opened to groups and organizations who were developing immunoassay technology for food and environmental testing and who were interested in promoting the proper application of immunoassay as an analytical technique. Over the years, the focus of AEIC has been broadened to encompass the expanding field of biotechnology. Membership became more diverse and now includes research consultants, immunoassay equipment manufacturers, analytical labs involved in both protein-based and DNA-based analytical testing, DNA-based equipment manufacturers, other testing organizations, food/mycotoxin testing companies as well as the companies that provide biotechnology products for agriculture. Due to this shift in focus, the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium (AEIC) was renamed “Analytical Excellence through Industry Collaboration” in 2005.

Board of Directors

John Zheng, ICIA, President

Tao Geng, Bayer Crop Science, Vice President

Penny Hunst, Ag Biotech Consultant, Secretary

Luke Muschinske, Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Treasurer

Donna Houchins, Romer Labs, Past President