This 3-hour, broad spectrum inhibition test detects all major classes of antibiotics in raw commingled milk. The method, performed in two national ring trials by ILVO, indicates that the CowSide II test is appropriate for use as a screening test at dairies and farms for raw commingled cows’ milk.

Lawrence, MA

Charm Sciences, Inc. is pleased to announce the Charm CowSide II test has completed ILVO validation. CowSide II is a 3 hour qualitative test of raw milk for inhibitory substances including residues of antibiotics. The method meets Belgian FASFC acceptance criteria for detection capability allowing use at milk control stations.

The test was evaluated visually using multiple brands of dry well incubators for vials: a 4 place and 20 place incubator manufactured by Charm Sciences Inc., and a 10 place Delvo® incubator supplied by DSM used by many farmers in EU and USA.

“The Charm CowSide II test is a broad-spectrum inhibition test typically used for the screening of raw commingled and ultra-pasteurized cow milk,” said Ingrid Huntley, Global Technical Services Specialist for Charm Sciences. “It detects all major classes of antibiotics: beta-lactams, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, and aminoglycosides. Eleven drugs are detected at or below US target levels and 30 drugs at or below EU MRLs. This approval will have a significant, positive impact on in the EU marketplace by providing another tool for simple drug residue screening at the farm level.”

CowSide II kits consist of single service vials that contain pre-measured bacterial spores, media, and pH indicator. The starting color in the vial is blue/purple. Milk is added to the vial and incubated. If antibiotics are absent, spores germinate and grow, which changes the color to yellow or yellow/green. If antibiotics are present in the milk, microbial growth is inhibited and the positive sample remains blue/purple.

About Charm Sciences, Inc.
Charm Sciences is a world leader provider of food safety, water quality and environmental diagnostics. Charm’s diagnostics portfolio includes test kits and systems for antibiotics, mycotoxins, pesticides, alkaline phosphatase, pathogens, end product microbial assessment, allergen control, water quality and ATP hygiene. Directly and through its network of distributors, Charm products serve the food, beverage, water, pharmaceutical, medical, personal care, environmental, and industrial markets in more than 100 countries. Customers rely on Charm products for excellence in quality, innovation and customer support.

About ILVO
ILVO, Flanders research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food (Melle, Belgium), is the EU reference laboratory for antibiotics and the national reference laboratory of Belgium. ILVO performs screening test validations according to the European Commission Central Reference Laboratory Screening Test Guidelines also being adopted by the International Dairy Federation.

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