Tag: standard
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Health Organizations Form Genetics Data Standards Alliance
Some 70 health care organizations worldwide are forming an alliance to develop common standards for collecting and sharing genetic data. The organizations — representing health care providers, government agencies, academic and research institutes, foundations, and advocacy groups — seeks to create a common interoperable framework, with associated regulatory and practical guidelines, for the interchange of…
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Tests Show Many Laser Pointers Giving Off Excessive Power
In tests by researchers at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, many laser pointers on the market, including most pointers with a green beam, emitted more power than allowed by federal regulations. The team led by Joshua Hadler, NIST’s laser safety officer, reported on the tests today at the International Laser…
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Universal Prescription Drug Label Standards Issued
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a scientific standards-setting organization, released new standards that the group says for the first time provide a universal labeling format for medicines in containers dispensed by pharmacists. The standards are expected to be published next month. The standards (free registration required) — known formally as General Chapter <17> Prescription Container…
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Consortium Launched for Industrial Robotic Operating System
Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio unveiled a research consortium to speed development of an operating system for robots meeting the needs of industrial users. The ROS-Industrial Consortium aims to build an extension of the Robot Operating System (ROS), an open-source common framework of software libraries and tools, currently for service and research robotics applications.…
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UN Body Releases New Food Safety Standards
The UN’s Codex Alimentarius Commission issued new safety standards for infant formula, fruit, and seafood, as well as recommendations for nutritional labeling. The commission, a joint standards body of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), released the standards at its 2-7 July meeting in Rome. Codex standards can…
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New Standards Released for Drug Impurity Limits, Methods
U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) in Rockville, Maryland has published two new standards governing elemental impurities in medications. USP says conformance to the standards will be required starting 1 May 2014. Elemental impurities include catalysts and environmental contaminants such as lead or mercury that may be present in drugs. According to USP, elemental impurities can occur…
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NIST Develops New Biometric Communications Protocol
Computer scientists at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed and published a new protocol for communicating with biometric sensors over wired and wireless networks. Biometric sensors are being used increasingly for security access to and controls on electronic systems and physical facilities. The new protocol, called WS-Biometric Devices (WS-BD), allows desktops, laptops,…
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Database Reveals Food Ingredient Fraud Hazards
A study drawing on a database of reports on fraud and economically motivated adulteration in food shows that olive oil, milk, honey, and saffron are among the foods found most often with adulterated ingredients. The research appears online in the April Journal of Food Science (paid subscription required) that draws on a database offered by the…
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Standards Proposed for Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Integrity
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is proposing a set of recommended best practices to help ensure supply chain integrity, and reduce the risks of counterfeit or mishandled medicines. USP released the draft standards for comment in advance of a workshop on supply chain integrity at its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland on 22-23 May 2012. Supply…
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OriginOil, National Lab to Collaborate on Biomass Standards
OriginOil Inc. an algae fuel developer in Los Angeles, signed a research agreement with the Idaho National Lab, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, to establish industry standards for algal biomass. Standards for fuels from biomass are considered a an important step in making algal biofuels a competitive alternative to petroleum. The company says…