Converging Technologies | Rapid antibiotic detection kit in milk localized
One of the challenges in the food industry is detecting the potential contamination in products, and Iranian-made rapid antibiotic detection kits have helped address this issue. In the production of fermented products, it is not possible to use milk that contains antibiotics because antibiotics prevent the growth of beneficial microorganisms used in these products or disrupt their growth process. Therefore, the product made from this raw milk will not have proper quality, and its texture will not form correctly.
To determine the presence or absence of antibiotics in raw milk, specific test kits are now used, which are not only accurate but also very fast. One of the rapid methods for assessing the contamination of milk samples with antibiotics such as tetracyclines and beta-lactams is the use of rapid antibiotic detection kits for milk.
Preventing Imports
When a drug is administered to a human or animal via injection, topically, or orally, some of it accumulates in the body, which is known as antibiotic residue. This residue can be detected in the blood, muscle tissues, and bodily fluids such as milk. If milk from an animal treated with antibiotics is consumed, the antibiotic residue in the milk can be harmful to the consumer and to dairy fermentation industries.
Rapid antibiotic detection kits are imported products, with about one million kits being imported annually from Belgium, Denmark, and China. The necessity of localizing these kits led to the creation of the rapid antibiotic detection kit in Iran by the Fartak Tab Knowledge-based Company, with support from the Converging Technologies Strategic Center and the Special Nano Development Headquarters of the Presidential Office.
High Speed of Action
Iranian-made rapid detection kits rely on both nanotechnology and biotechnology, and they are considered part of the converging technologies field. The goal of producing these kits is first to prevent imports and then to enter global markets for earning foreign currency.
One of the advantages of this technology is its speed, as results can be obtained in less than 5 minutes with high sensitivity. These kits do not require a laboratory and can be used without the need for specialists, so they can even be used at home to check the safety of food products. In appearance, these kits are paper-based and resemble pregnancy test kits. Iranian-made rapid detection kits will soon be available on the market.
Public Relations and Information Center, Vice Presidency for Science and Technology
