Elisa Test Kits for Detection of Beta-agonist Residues

Three ELISA test kits, the Randox ELISA beta-agonist test kit, Euro-Diagnostica test kit, and Ridascreen beta-agonist test kit, were evaluated for screening of meat and liver for beta-agonist residues in fortified and field-incurred samples. It was found that the Randox beta-agonist test kit was more suitable as a screening tool due to its accuracy, ease of use, and lower cost. The tests were able to detect beta-agonist residues at the minimum level of detection, as claimed by the suppliers. The performance of the method as assessed through recovery rates of beta-agonists in fortified samples was satisfactory with a low coefficient of variation (1-3%). Repeatability, as measured through the coefficient of correlation was also satisfactory. For field-incurred positive samples, the test kit showed a sensitivity of 100% and a low rate of false positives for goat and cow tissues. However, a high rate of apparent false positives was obtained for tissues of swine. being used to produce leaner meat among swine and began taking enforcement samples in 1998. The potential risk for human health posed by the presence of beta-agonists in meats is high, due to the severity of the possible adverse effects of this contaminant, as well as the importance of meat in the total diet of Malaysians. Analysis of meats for betaagonist residues are presently carried out at surveillance laboratories using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The procedures for this analytical method are labor-intensive, tedious, and time-consuming. Thus, the usage of validated rapid methods that enable screening of samples for adulteration would increase the possibility of detecting meats that violate the Foods Act 1983 and the Food Regulations, 1985. It would also permit the examination of more samples and reduce the costing of analysis for non-violating samples of meat at the laboratories. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and accuracy of three commercial rapid screening tests for detecting betaagonist residues in fortified and field-incurred tissue samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS