• Flour Analysis Category

  Series Code	Sample Type	Frequency	Analyses
  HW1	Hard Wheat Flour Sample	Monthly	Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Wet Gluten, Dry Gluten, Gluten Index
  HW2	Hard Wheat Flour Sample	BiMonthly	Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Diastatic Power
  SW1	Soft Wheat Flour Sample	BiMonthly	Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, pH
  ALTFLR	Non-Wheat Flour. Sources include chickpea, corn, lentil, oat, pea, quinoa, rice, et	BiMonthly	Moisture, Protein, Ash, Soluble Dietary FIber, Insoluble Dietary Fiber, Total Dietary Fiber, Total Starch, Water Holding Capacity, Screen Test
  SEM	Durum Semolina Sample	BiMonthly	Moisture, Ash, Protein, Falling Number, Speck Count, Screen Test, Minolta Color

• Label Analysis Category

  Series Code	Sample Type	Frequency	Analyses
  SUGAR	Grain-Based Food for Sugar Analysis	Monthly	Moisture, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Maltose, Lactose
  VMP	Grain-Based Food or Pet Food for Analysis of Proximates, Vitamins and Minerals	BiMonthly	Proximates Moisture, Ash, Protein, Crude Fat (EE), Crude Fat (AH) Vitamins Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin Minerals Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Manganese, Sodium, Selenium, Chromium
  DF	Grain-Based or Pulse-Based Food for Dietary Fiber Analysis	BiMonthly	Moisture, Soluble Dietary Fiber, Insoluble Dietary Fiber, Total Dietary Fiber, Beta-Glucan
  GF	Grain-Based Food Sample to measure Gluten Content	BiMonthly	Gluten (Gluten-Free Label)
  FEED	Grain-Based Feed or Pet Food Sample	BiMonthly	Moisture, Protein, Ash, Crude Fat (EE), Crude Fat (AH)

• Food Safety Category

  Series Code	Sample Type	Frequency	Analyses
  MICRO1	Flour Sample for Microbiological Analyses	Quarterly	Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Yeasts, Molds, Aerobic Plate Count, Coliforms, E.Coli
  MYCO	Ground Whole Grain for Mycotoxin Analysis (Corn, Wheat, Distillers Grains, Barley)	Quarterly	Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, DON/Vomitoxin, Zearalenone

• Rheology Testing Category

  Series Code	Sample Type	Frequency	Analyses
  ALV	Flour Sample for Alveograph	BiMonthly	Alveograph Analysis
  AMYL	Flour Sample for Amylograph	BiMonthly	Amylograph Analysis
  FARS	Flour Sample for Farinograph (Small Bowl)	BiMonthly	Farinograph Analysis, Valorimeter
  FARL	Flour Sample for Farinograph (Large Bowl)	BiMonthly	Farinograph Analysis, Valorimeter
  MIXO	Ground Whole Grain for Mixograph	BiMonthly	Moisture, Mixograph Absorption, Water Temp., Time to Peak Height, Height of Curve at Peak & 8 Min, Descending Slope
  RVA	Flour or Starch-Blend Sample for RVA Analysis	BiMonthly	Moisture, Stirring Number, 13-Min Pasting

Proficiency Ratings

Proficiency Reports are available in all Series subscriptions except for EXTRA. In addition to comparing results with other laboratories, you will receive quantitative estimates of laboratory accuracy via the reports. Annual certificates are issued to laboratories that demonstrate excellent performance during the year.

How Proficiency Ratings Work

Our Proficiency Rating utilizes the internationally recognized z-score in determining accuracy assessments. Results from each Series subscription are compiled and distributed to all subscribers, maintaining participant confidentiality. All subscribers are eligible and automatically considered when they submit results for all rounds in all Program Series.

When you subscribe to the Laboratory Proficiency Rating Program, you will receive z-value reports at regular intervals throughout the year to enable you to check on your progress. Accuracy Scores will be calculated for subscribers who have submitted data in all rounds for all analytes across the calendar year.

Laboratories who have submitted for all rounds in a calendar year can earn award certificates depending on the level of their accuracy.

• Laboratories who obtain an adjusted mean z-score of less than 2.00 earn a proficiency rating of satisfactory for accuracy
• Laboratories who obtain an adjusted mean z-score of less than 1.00 earn a proficiency rating of outstanding for accuracy

The z-score represents the number of standard deviations a single result, or series of results, differs from the true value as represented by the respective mean. Outliers are removed from the series of results when determining the z-score (and attract a penalty). Laboratory accuracy is determined by the deviation of observed analytical results from the grand mean of all participating laboratories.

Certificates and Awards

All analyses reported by the subscriber will be included in the Proficiency Rating Program Certificate Status Calculations. Results must be reported for each round of the program from January to December of the certificate year. Refer to the current Series Protocol for the required analytes and Group 1 or Group 2 details.

Participation certificates will be available upon request for current subscribers. Results for all rounds of the specified group of analytes must be reported. Details on qualifications are outlined in the latest version of the Series Protocol.