14 replies to this topic

[Paschal Devangwa]

I am a Dairy Processor in Tanzania; East Africa. Literature has indicated that testing milk for antibiotics during reception is vital, and more so a legal requirement. Antibiotics in milk are both a health hazard and interefer with processing of cultutred products. Please adivice me on an effective, economical short way of conducting a quick antibiotic test on milk being received from a farmer at the collection centre and how to analyse and inteprete the results and corrective actions to be taken. Thanks.

[Simon]

Hi Paschal,

A quick google search yields several milk analysers with the ability to check for antibiotics.
Unless any member has practical experience to share.

Regards,
Simon

[cazyncymru]

There are a number of rapid test kits on the market that will give you a result in less than 10 minutes ( which if you are also testing the milk for keeping quality of the milk by rezasurin will be not long to wait)

The kits that i personally am au fait with include
Snap Beta Lactum test
Charm
Delvotest

I must admit i do prefer the Delvotest, but it entirely a matter of personal choice.

Caz x

[poppysnoss]

There are a number of rapid test kits on the market that will give you a result in less than 10 minutes ( which if you are also testing the milk for keeping quality of the milk by rezasurin will be not long to wait)

The kits that i personally am au fait with include
Snap Beta Lactum test
Charm
Delvotest

I must admit i do prefer the Delvotest, but it entirely a matter of personal choice.

Caz x

I've used Snap and Delvotest in the past and agree with Caz here, as I also prefer Delvo. We used Delvoexpress (10 min test) for screening and confirmed any positives with Delvo P test. (2.5 hrs)

However, it's over 12 years since I worked directly in the dairy industry, so things may well have moved on....

http://www.dsm.com/l...10Points_En.pdf

[agwanda]

I am a Dairy Processor in Tanzania; East Africa. Literature has indicated that testing milk for antibiotics during reception is vital, and more so a legal requirement. Antibiotics in milk are both a health hazard and interefer with processing of cultutred products. Please adivice me on an effective, economical short way of conducting a quick antibiotic test on milk being received from a farmer at the collection centre and how to analyse and inteprete the results and corrective actions to be taken. Thanks.

Dear Paschal,

Apart from Snap and Delvotest, there is also the Copan test kit and BetaStar. Check the link below:

http://www.baltvita....iotic_test_kits

I have both used Copan and Delvo kits before. Rapid testing takes 5-15 minutes while the conventional tests take upto 3 hours.The rapid test will only help you screen9 detect) mainly beta lactams while the 3 hour kit is fairly more informative.

Regards,

Agwanda

[Paschal Devangwa]

Thanks people for your advices. They have been helpfull. Thanks Agwanda,Pop,Caz and simon. God bless you all

[Paschal Devangwa]

Dear Paschal,

Apart from Snap and Delvotest, there is also the Copan test kit and BetaStar. Check the link below:

http://www.baltvita....iotic_test_kits

I have both used Copan and Delvo kits before. Rapid testing takes 5-15 minutes while the conventional tests take upto 3 hours.The rapid test will only help you screen9 detect) mainly beta lactams while the 3 hour kit is fairly more informative.

Regards,

Agwanda

Dear Agwanda. Thank you very much. Just to ask more. Is Antibiotic test a legally compulsory platform test in Kenya?.Do you repeat the test in the factory lab? WHat corrective actions do you take at the farmgate and at the factory if you identify the milk has got antibiotics? Are there tolerance levels?

[agwanda]

Dear Agwanda. Thank you very much. Just to ask more. Is Antibiotic test a legally compulsory platform test in Kenya?.Do you repeat the test in the factory lab? WHat corrective actions do you take at the farmgate and at the factory if you identify the milk has got antibiotics? Are there tolerance levels?

Dear Paschal,

In Kenya and East Africa for that matter, antibiotic test is not a mandatory platformm test however the MRL should be within the specifications of the Codex Alimentarius Commission(CAC). In East Africa, the raw milk specifications are EAS 67:2007, this standard is already applicable within the East African Community of which Tanzania is inclusive(if you grab a copy of this you will have everything clear).

The codex requirements CAC/MRL 2-2011 can be found on the following link:

http://www.codexalim...s/45/MRL2_e.pdf

Antibiotic testing is however done periodically, say weekly from selected farmers milk or collection routes. If there are high residues noted the farmer is advised to identify his cows undergoing medication which are withdrawn as specified by veterinarian(without milking). After the withdrawal period the levels are expected to go down and milking will be resume.

At the factory, for food safety reasons, this test is done routinely just to ensure that the MRL is not exceeded. Note that milk with antibiotics is not used for fermented products due to inhibition of starter cultures. However, control of AB levels in milk has to be effected at the farm level whereby farmers have to observe the specified withdrawal periods after traeting their cows.

I hope this helps.

Agwanda

[mind over matter]

Are antibiotics used for human therapy not permitted for farming used?

[agwanda]

Are antibiotics used for human therapy not permitted for farming used?

Dear MOM,

Your query is not quite clear. Kindly add more meat to it.

[mind over matter]

Dear MOM,

Your query is not quite clear. Kindly add more meat to it.

I mean, for example, penicilline is one of the most widely used antibiotics... Can we use it in farming industry?

[agwanda]

I mean, for example, penicilline is one of the most widely used antibiotics... Can we use it in farming industry?

Dear MOM,

Penicillin forms a major part of the broadest class of antibiotics referred to as beta-lactams. These are used to manufacture antibiotic drugs that are used for both human and veterinary purposes. However, there are differing specifications for usage of each drug for animals and humans. This may be in terms of dosage, composition and mode of use.In animals bacterial diseases like bovine mastitis are treated using penicillin based drugs.

Some usefull links here:
http://www.elmhurst....penicillin.html
http://vetmed.tamu.e...icillinG-in.pdf

Regards,

Agwanda

[mind over matter]

Dear MOM,

Penicillin forms a major part of the broadest class of antibiotics referred to as beta-lactams. These are used to manufacture antibiotic drugs that are used for both human and veterinary purposes. However, there are differing specifications for usage of each drug for animals and humans. This may be in terms of dosage, composition and mode of use.In animals bacterial diseases like bovine mastitis are treated using penicillin based drugs.

Some usefull links here:
http://www.elmhurst....penicillin.html
http://vetmed.tamu.e...icillinG-in.pdf

Regards,

Agwanda

Thanks for the site-links!

I am concerned about the below quote from one of your links.

Severe Allergic Shock Reactions to Penicillin:

It is estimated that between 300-500 people die each year from penicillin-induced anaphylaxis, a severe allergic shock reaction to penicillin. In afflicted individuals, the beta-lactam ring binds to serum proteins, initiating an IgE-mediated inflammatory response.

Edited by mind over matter, 17 December 2011 - 01:36 PM.

[agwanda]

Thanks for the site-links!

I am concerned about the below quote from one of your links.

Dear MOM,

Allergic reactions to AB drugs is quite common and for this reason propper prescription is advocated to prevent abuse or adverse effects. Abuse of the same drugs (as you might know) also lead to drug resistance in certain cases.

I totally agree with you but proper usage(directed usage) is advised both from the veterinary perspective and the in human medicine. Check out below:

http://www.webmd.com...ies-medications
http://www.drugs.com...on-allergy.html

Regards,

Agwanda

[agwanda]

Dear MOM,

Just more information specific to penicillin, check out:

http://www.uptodate....ted-antibiotics

Agwanda