Portable test for banned AGPs in feed

A new weapon is being announced to aid the rapid detection of illegal antibiotics. Universal Sensors is to demonstrate for the first time its new portable Vantix Research II. This system is capable of performing a 30 minute test for 10 banned antimicrobials in animal feed.

Universal Sensors introduces its test kit at the scientific conference Rapid Methods Europe 2011, which is to be held from 24-26 January in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

Universal Sensors will preview for the first time its new portable Vantix Research II system and the initial 30 minute test which ultimately will allow for the detection of 10 of the most common banned antimicrobials in animal feed with minimal sample preparation.

Checking the ban
While sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in feed for growth promoting reasons has been banned in the EU since 2006, in other parts of the world the practice is still heavily used.

The ban in the EU is the final step in the phasing out of antibiotics used to prevent animals becoming ill (rather than treating them when they are ill) and is part of the overall European strategy to address the increasing emergence of bacteria and other microbes resistant to antibiotics.

In order for the EU ban to be applied effectively, analytical systems are required to detect potential abuse and this is where the new test from Universal Sensors could help.

Traditionally, the analysis of animal feed has been confined to a laboratory with sophisticated instruments and equipment.

These techniques make it difficult to test samples of animal feed on-site where the feedstock is being made or fed to animals.

Screening for positives
The ability to carry out a rapid test on site would allow a thorough investigation if a positive result was found.

A positive screening result on a farm may also initiate a more in-depth response, for example, more samples could be taken of additional feeding stuffs to identify how banned substance was entering the food chain.