AFNOR validation of Premi Test, a microbiological-based screening tube-test for the detection of antimicrobial residues in animal muscle tissue.

Premi Test contains viable spores of a strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus which is sensitive to antimicrobial residues, such as beta-lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides and sulphonamides. The growth of the strain is inhibited by the presence of antimicrobial residues in muscle tissue samples. Premi Test was validated according to AFNOR rules (French Association for Normalisation).

European Proficiency testing of national reference laboratories for the confirmation of sulfonamide residues in muscle and milk.

Two interlaboratory studies were organized in 2002-2003 in order to check the proficiency of laboratories in confirming the presence of sulfonamide residues in muscle and milk. These studies involved 25 EU National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) from 21 different European Countries in charge of statutory monitoring of antimicrobial residues in food of animal origin at a national level. The study was conducted according to international and national guidelines by the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) in charge of antimicrobial substances.