Seed testing is an important part of all seed storage and production operations. Seeds sold commercially must comply with the Federal Seed Law which sets minimum standards for purity and viability. In addition, each state has a seed law that sets local standards for purity, viability, and weed seed contamination. These women at the NSSL are conducting seed germination test to determine the viability of seeds. Testing standards are established in the US by the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA). Researchers at the National Seed Storage Laboratory have developed this computerized seed testing machine called "the machine vision system" to assess both the vigor and viability of seeds automatically.