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LANSING,
Mich., April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG) has expanded its line of products developed for
the worldwide dairy industry to include the quickest single test
available to simultaneously detect beta-lactam and tetracycline
antibiotic residues in milk.
Developed
to comply with the European Union's maximum residue levels, Neogen's new
BetaStar(R) Combo utilizes the same format as the popular BetaStar assay
-- an extremely easy lateral flow test that requires only minimal
training and equipment to produce consistently accurate results. At just
5 minutes, BetaStar Combo is the fastest assay for beta-lactams and
tetracyclines in a single test.
"As
the use of both tetracycline and beta-lactam antibiotics for the
management of mastitis in dairy herds has grown in certain regions of the
world, the need for a single test to simultaneously detect both groups of
antibiotics has also grown," said Ed Bradley,
Neogen's vice president of Food Safety. "Developing BetaStar Combo
allows us to offer the worldwide dairy industry yet another simple
solution to protect its consumers and businesses. Neogen can now offer
the dairy industry rapid, easy tests to detect either beta-lactam or
tetracycline antibiotics, or both at the same time, in the same simple
test format."
The
BetaStar Combo test method is easy to use and is also very rugged --
making the test effective for use in the milk receiving laboratory, on
the truck, or even at the farm level.
The
tetracycline group of antibiotics is not as widely used as the
beta-lactam group; therefore, testing for tetracycline residues in milk
is not as widespread. The European Union has set a maximum residue level
of 100 parts per billion for tetracyclines in milk and Neogen expects the
strongest initial interest for its BetaStar Combo product from EU
countries, where tetracyclines are more widely used for treatment of
mastitis.
Earlier
this year, Neogen received approval from the FDA and National Conference
on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) for its quick and easy BetaStar(R)US
test for dairy antibiotics in milk. This approval allows milk producers
and processors in the United States to use Neogen's
new test to comply with FDA regulations that require the mandatory
testing of milk for dairy antibiotics. BetaStar US had previously earned
an important approval from the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI No.
030802) after rigorous testing.
Neogen
Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal
safety. The company's Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture
media, and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural
toxins, genetic modifications, food allergens, drug residues, plant
diseases and sanitation concerns. Neogen's Animal Safety Division markets
a complete line of diagnostics, veterinary instruments, veterinary
pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, disinfectants, and
rodenticides.
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