Validation study of a receptor-based lateral flow assay for detection of beta-lactam antibiotics in milk

A validation study designed to meet the requirements of the AOAC Research Institute and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Veterinary Medicine, was conducted for a receptor-based, immunochromatographic method (BetaStar US) for detection of beta-lactam antibiotic residues in raw, commingled bovine milk. The assay was found to detect amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephapirin, cloxacillin, and penicillin G at levels below the FDA tolerance/safe levels but above the maximum sensitivity thresholds established by the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments. Results of the Part I (internal) and Part II (independent laboratory) dose-response studies using spiked samples were in very close agreement for all five drugs tested, with differences between the Part I and Part II 90/95% sensitivity values ranging from 0 to 1 ppb. The test was able to detect all five drugs at the approximate 90/95% sensitivity levels when present as incurred residues in milk collected from cows that had been treated with the specific drug. A sixth drug, ceftiofur, was found to be undetectable at levels of < or = 500 ppb (as total ceftiofur metabolites from incurred residues in milk samples). The selectivity of the assay was 100%, because no false-positive results were obtained in tests of >1000 control milk samples. The assay was found to be applicable to the testing of frozen raw milk samples. Results of ruggedness experiments established the operating parameter tolerances for the BetaStar US assay. Results of cross-reactivity testing established that the assay detects certain other beta-lactam drugs (dicloxacillin and ticarcillin), but it does not cross-react with any of 30 drugs belonging to other classes. Abnormally high bacterial or somatic cell counts in raw milk produced no interference with the ability of the test to detect beta-lactams at tolerance/safe levels.