title: Analysis of microbiological screen test data for antimicrobial residues in food animals.
abstract: This study analyzes the National Residue Program (NRP) of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), data for the years 1983-1998 to determine the effectiveness of all three microbiological screen tests that were developed and used by the FSIS to control antimicrobial residues in food animals. The Swab Test On Premises (STOP) was the first screen test introduced in slaughterhouses, followed by the Calf Antibiotic Sulfonamide Test (CAST) and the Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST). The data for STOP indicates that during 1983-1998, the rate of food animal carcasses with violative levels of antimicrobial residues reduced from 2.33% to 0.45% under the monitoring plan and under the surveillance plan, the rate reduced from 55.1% to 0.56%. Similarly, the data for CAST indicates that the rate of calf carcasses with violative levels of antimicrobial residue also declined significantly during those years. Because of its higher sensitivity and shorter analytical time, the use of FAST started in 1995. By 1999, it had practically replaced the use of STOP and CAST in bovine species. The use of only one test such as FAST instead of different tests has removed confusion for testing different species of food animals and thereby has enhanced the efficiency of the NRP.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Office of Policy, Program Development, and Evaluation, Animal and Egg Production Food Safety Staff, Washington, DC 20250, USA. Bhabani.Dey@fsis.usda.gov
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thaler
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gwozdz
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D004350:Drug Residues / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005513:Food Inspection; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011786:Quality Control; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides