ISO 8588-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 8588:2017 — Sensory analysis — Methodology — "A" - "not A" test. This international standard specifies the procedure and practical considerations for conducting the "A" / "not A" sensory test, a forced-decision method for determining whether a perceptible sensory difference exists between samples when one sample is presented as a reference ("A") and other samples are judged as either "A" or "not A".

Abstract

ISO 8588:2017 describes the "A" − "not A" test procedure used in sensory analysis to determine whether assessors perceive a difference between a known reference (A) and test samples. The method applies to single or multiple sensory attributes, can be used as a difference, recognition or perception test, and includes guidance on test design, assessor instructions and interpretation limits. The standard also notes limitations (for example, it is not appropriate for similarity testing where interchangeability is required) and provides application examples in an annex.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed).
• Publication date: July 2017 (edition 2, published 2017‑07).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 67.240 (Sensory analysis).
• Edition / version: 2nd edition (2017).
• Number of pages: 13 pages.

Key bibliographic and status details above are based on the ISO bibliographic record for ISO 8588:2017.

Scope

This standard specifies a procedure for determining whether a perceptible sensory difference exists between samples of two products using the "A" − "not A" forced-choice format. The method is applicable when assessors are first familiarized with a reference sample ("A") and then asked to judge subsequent samples as either identical to that reference or not identical. The scope covers method purpose (difference testing, recognition, perception), general test design, assessor instructions and limitations of interpretation (it is not intended for similarity testing that requires interchangeability assessments). Examples of application and illustrative materials are provided in annexes.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and objectives of the "A" − "not A" sensory test.
• Test protocol: reference presentation, sample coding, sequence and number of replications.
• Assessor briefing and instructions, including required reference exposure before testing.
• Statistical considerations and interpretation of results for difference, recognition and perception purposes.
• Limitations and unsuitable applications (not suitable for similarity/interchangeability testing).
• Examples of applications and recommended answer forms (annex material).

Typical use and users

Practitioners in sensory and consumer science use ISO 8588: food and beverage R&D and quality control teams, sensory laboratories, academic researchers studying discrimination/recognition, product formulation groups, and regulatory or standards bodies that need a standardized method for simple difference/recognition testing. The method is particularly useful when a clear reference sample exists and when direct pairwise comparison is impractical due to appearance or aftertaste issues.

Related standards

ISO 8588 is part of the ISO sensory-analysis family and is commonly used alongside other sensory standards that address assessor selection/training, test-room design and general methodology — for example ISO 13299 (general guidance for sensory profiling) and ISO 8586 (selection, training and monitoring of assessors). Practitioners often reference ISO 8589 (test-room design), ISO 6658 (general guidance on sensory test methods) and ISO vocabulary standards when designing studies.

Keywords

A‑not‑A test; A − not A; sensory analysis; discrimination test; recognition test; perceptual difference; sensory methodology; ISO 8588; sensory protocol; assessors.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 8588:2017 is an international standard that specifies the methodology for conducting the "A" − "not A" sensory test used to determine whether assessors perceive a difference between a reference sample and other samples.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers test purpose and application (difference, recognition, perception), detailed procedural guidance (reference presentation, sample coding and replication), assessor instructions, and interpretation considerations, plus examples and annex material. It also describes what the method is not suitable for (e.g., similarity/interchangeability testing).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Sensory scientists, product developers, quality managers, research laboratories, and regulatory/standards professionals who need a standardized discrimination or recognition test protocol.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 8588:2017 is the current 2nd edition (published in July 2017) and replaced the withdrawn ISO 8588:1987. The ISO bibliographic record shows the 2017 edition as published and confirmed.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 8588 belongs to the broader ISO sensory-analysis series (ICS 67.240) and is commonly used together with standards addressing assessor selection and training (ISO 8586), sensory profiling (ISO 13299) and test-room/layout guidance (ISO 8589), among others.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: A‑not‑A, discrimination test, recognition test, sensory methodology, assessor instructions, reference sample, ISO 8588.