The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) conducts quarterly round trials to help establish international standardization of cotton classification based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards in order to promote efficiency in cotton production and marketing. All cotton testing centers around the world are encouraged to participate to ensure that their cotton testing results using Uster HVI equipment and other testing instruments are on the same level of accuracy as other test centers.
How do CSITC Round Trials differ from other cotton round trials?
With 4 samples per Round Trial, and 30 tests per sample on each participating instrument, CSITC Round Trials are based on intense testing in every lab, so that a reliable and meaningful analysis can be given, illuminating the accuracy of the results as well as the precision. Typically, each instrument is compared to more than 130 other instruments. The joint Round Trial realization by USDA-AMS and Bremen Fiber Institute, hosted by ICAC, assures professionalism and impartiality.
To enable reliable and comparable test results from cotton testing laboratories worldwide, a universal and comprehensive manual, covering the best practices for commercial instrument testing of cotton fibers from sampling to data reporting, was produced jointly by the CSITC Task Force and the ITMF-ICCTM.
The Guideline in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic is available on ICAC website at: Committees & Networks > CSITC > HVI Guidelines > 2019 or at this LINK
ITMF-ICCTM and CSITC Interpretation Guidline is Now Available!
ITMF-ICCTM and CSITC Task Force created ITMF-ICCTM and CSITC Interpretation Guideline. This Guideline aims to explain how to interpret and apply results produced by a range of instruments used by the different segments of the cotton industry. The segments include measurements during seed-cotton production through to spun yarn and dyed fabric.
This guideline is now available in its first version! It can be located at: Committees & Networks > CSITC > HVI Guidelines > 2020 or at this LINK
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardisation of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) has been conducting the CSITC Round Trials jointly with the Fibre Institute in Bremen and USDA-AMS since 2007. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used.
Benefits of Participation
Laboratories that are participating in the CSITC Round Trials will get a comparison of their test results to the results of approx. 150 other instruments everywhere in the world.
Participants will benefit by receiving
A summarized feedback that can be utilised to demonstrate measurement performance to e.g. customers
A detailed analysis report to address measurement-related problems.
Results will confirm the participant’s ability to provide accurate and reproducible test results that are based on the established international standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling many laboratory quality-management requirements, such as ISO 17025.
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up
Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping.
Current prices are as follows:
$275 USD per sample set
$1100 USD for participation in all 4 round trials
Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by filling out this form and emailing it to csitcsecretariat@icac.org
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) is conducting the eleventh round of official CSITC Round Trials in 2017. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used.
Benefits of Participation
Participants will benefit by receiving detailed diagnostic 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 standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up
Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping. As the project came to an end in December 2011, a fee of US$1,040 for four trials/US$260 per trial. According to our records, after keeping the CSITC Round Trial Fee constant since 2012, the CSITC Task Force decided in its Islamabad meeting to increase the fee for covering the increasing costs of the three organizations working together: Faserinstitut Bremen, USDA and the ICAC Secretariat:
- For annual participation from 1000 USD to 1040 USD per sample set
- For a single Round Trial from 250 USD to 260 USD per sample set
This increase will enable us to continue to provide the services currently offered, as well as to incorporate new features that will increase the value of our work to all participants.
Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by visiting https://www.icac.org/committees/CSITC-Task-Force/Round-Trials, filling out the participation and payment forms and returning them according to instructions or in direct contact to csitcsecretariat@icac.org and yana@icac.org
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) is conducting the tenth round of official CSITC Round Trials in 2016. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used.
Benefits of Participation
Participants will benefit by receiving detailed diagnostic 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 standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up
Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping. As the project came to an end in December 2011, a fee of US$1,000 for four trials/US$250 per trial is being applied since 2012.
Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by visiting https://www.icac.org/committees/CSITC-Task-Force/Round-Trials, filling out the participation and payment forms and returning them according to instructions or in direct contact to csitcsecretariat@icac.org and nieves@icac.org.
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) is conducting the ninth round of official CSITC Round Trials in 2015. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used.
Benefits of Participation
Participants will benefit by receiving detailed diagnostic 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 standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up
Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping. As the project came to an end in December 2011, a fee of US$1,000 for four trials/US$250 per trial is being applied since 2012.
Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by visiting https://www.icac.org/committees/CSITC-Task-Force/Round-Trials, filling out the participation and payment forms and returning them according to instructions or in direct contact to csitcsecretariat@icac.org and nieves@icac.org.
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping. The project came to an end in December 2011, and a new fee of US$1,000 for four trials/US$250 per trial is being applied since 2012. Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by visiting <https://www.icac.org/cmte/CSITC-Task-Force/Round-Trials>, filling out the participation and payment forms and returning them according to instructions.
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) is conducting the eighth round of official CSITC Round Trials in 2014. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used. Benefits of Participation Participants will benefit by receiving detailed diagnostic 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 standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
Round Trial Cost & Sign-Up Since the round trial program started in 2007, participation has been sponsored through a project involving the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Fiber Institute of Bremen, Germany, and the European Community; in the past, only a nominal fee has been charged to cover sample shipping. The project came to an end in December 2011, and a new fee of US$1,000 for four trials/US$250 per trial is being applied since 2012. Enrollment from year-to-year will be automatic until we are informed to the contrary. Invoices will be emailed once a year. New participants can enroll by visiting <https://www.icac.org/cmte/CSITC-Task-Force/Round-Trials>, filling out the participation and payment forms and returning them according to instructions.
The ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) is conducting the seventh round of official CSITC Round Trials in 2013. The round trials consist of quarterly tests. Laboratories can opt to participate for the year or for any quarter to suit their seasonal schedules. All cotton fiber testing laboratories capable of measuring cotton samples with rapid testing instruments, often referred to as high volume instruments (HVI), and based on the Universal Calibration Cotton Standards for micronaire, upper-half mean length, length uniformity index, strength, rd color, and +b color are encouraged to participate. Participation in a CSITC Round Trial is not limited to test centers using Uster HVI equipment. CSITC evaluations are based on test results and are not dependent on the manufacturer, model or kind of testing instruments used. Benefits of Participation Participants will benefit by receiving detailed diagnostic 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 standards. Participation is a recommended practice for fulfilling quality management requirements in laboratories (e.g. ISO 17025).
