Washington, DC
May 11, 2007
Source:
International Cotton Advisory
Committee
70 instruments representing 55
participating labs from 6 continents participated in the first
Round Trial conducted under the auspices of the Task Force on
Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton
(CSITC) during January 2007. Five cotton samples of known values
were mailed to each participating laboratory from USDA in
December. Each laboratory tested each sample six times each day
for five days. Each sample was tested for the six CSITC
parameters of length, length uniformity index, micronaire,
strength, Rd (reflectance) and +b (yellowness). Four of the
samples represented upland saw ginned cotton; the fifth sample
represented ELS saw ginned cotton. (In the next Round Trial,
Indian roller ginned cotton will be used for the fifth sample.)
Laboratories sent their results to the Bremen Fibre Institute
for evaluation, and laboratories were given an overall ranking,
as well as rankings for performance on each of the six tests.
Rankings were based on the results of each lab in coming closest
to the mean values for all laboratories participating in the
Round Trial on all six measurements. All results are anonymous,
but detailed information on Round Trial performance is sent
individually to each laboratory.
Summary Tables Available on the Web
Summary tables from the first
regular CSITC Round Trial are available on the web site:
www.ICAC.org.
The summary includes:
- Inter-laboratory averages
and variability and in-laboratory variability for each of
the 6 properties and each of the five cotton samples.
- Graphs showing the
distributions for every property and each cotton.
- A summary list of the
combined properties evaluations.
- A summary list of the
evaluations for each property.
Benefits of Participation
Participants in CSITC Round Trials benefit by having detailed
feedback that can be utilized to demonstrate measurement
performance to customers and to address measurement related
problems. Results will confirm the participant's ability to
provide reproducible test measurements that are based on the
established international standard. In addition, participation
is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management
requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up
Participation in the CSITC Round Trial is subsidized by USDA and
the Bremen Fibre Institute, but a nominal fee of US$75 per
quarter, US$300 per year for four trials, is charged to cover
expenses associated with sample distribution.
To participate in future CSITC Round Trials, contact:
International Cotton Advisory
Committee - CSITC
email:
CSITCsecretariat@icac.org
Fax: +1 202 463 6950 |
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