ISTA Workshop on Validation, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Seed Health Methods

Aim of the workshop 

With organising this workshop, ISTA’s Seed Health Committee (SHC) will lecture on how to validate different seed health testing protocols for fungi, bacteria and viruses. All different validation performance characteristics in combination with different testing methods like dilution plating, molecular detection via PCR, ELISA and bio-assays will be addressed. With this also themes like statistical tools used for sample selection, setting up a good quality assurance system and ISTA’s Accreditation System for Seed Health will be touched.

After the workshop participants are able to execute validations of test methods in their own laboratory.

Workshop content

Method validation – how to execute good experiments for the performance criteria (bacteriology, virology and mycology methods)

• Analytical sensitivity

• Specificity/accuracy

• Repeatability

• Reproducibility

• Accordance and concordance

• Robustness

How to organise a comparative or proficiency test

• What seed lot to choose?
• Characterizing seed lots
• Determination of % of contamination
• Check for homogeneity
• Check for stability

Quality system in seed health testing

• Key statistical concepts for SH tests
• How to check and maintain performance of the lab
• ISTA Accreditation System and the Seed Health Committee

The language will be English – no translation.

The participation fee includes all literature and supporting material for the workshop, lunches, coffee breaks and workshop official dinner. It does not include accommodation or meals other than those specified.

The number of participants is a minimum of 25 and restricted to a maximum of 50 participants. 

The registration and payment deadline is July 25, 2024

Please note:  
For cancellations made before 25 July 2024 registration fees are refundable minus a 50 Euro administration fee.
For cancellations made after 25 July 2024 registration fees are non-refundable. 
 

Travel & Visa information:

You may need a VISA and a letter of invitation for entry into India. For more information, please consult the Indian Embassy in your country.

If you require an invitation letter, or for any additional information, please contact:

Karen De La Rosa
Email: karen.delarosa@ista.ch

The invitation letter will be issued by ISTA Secretariat only after payment of the registration fee.
 

Young@ISTA Programme

Participants eligible to apply for support to attend this workshop under the Young@ISTA programme should view the funding criteria and download the application form here: Young@ISTA - International Seed Testing Association

The application deadline for funding is Monday, July 15, 2024