AEIC 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:

1. Better communication among kit developers, users, and regulators

2. Development of standards and regulatory guidelines for acceptance of immunoassay data

3. Educational programs for regulators and new users

4. 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 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. Recently, AEIC membership has become more diverse and includes research consultants, immunoassay equipment manufacturers, biotechnology-driven organizations and organizations utilizing DNA-based analytical technologies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR).