Nitrofuran Analysis (Antibiotic)

The use of nitrofuran antibiotics, which are used for the treatment of bacterial diseases in livestock, is prohibited in European Union countries due to concerns that their residues in edible tissues are carcinogenic. Before its ban, furazolidone was widely used in European Union countries as an effective veterinary antibiotic, especially in pig farming.

Antibiotics were originally used as food additives to treat microbial infectious diseases in humans or animals or to improve animal production efficiency. Nitrofurans are antibacterial agents commonly used for aquaculture, livestock and poultry farming. These antibiotics are highly effective in suppressing and killing gram positive and gram negative bacteria, some fungi and protozoa and are often used to prevent and treat diseases in animals caused by salmonella and escherichia coli.

However, nitrofurans have potential carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Inappropriate or misuse of these can result in veterinary drug residues in animals and eventually harm human health. In the European Union countries and the USA, the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals is not permitted.

Currently, a target level of 1 μg kg-1 has been set for nitrofurans in these countries. Similarly, the use of nitrofurans in all foods of animal origin is banned in China. A target level of 0,5 μg kg-1 has been set for nitrofurans in China.

Detection methods for nitrofurans in advanced laboratories include high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC) are still the main evaluation techniques. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has the advantages of relatively high sensitivity, good selectivity and specificity, and can provide structural information of compounds in the tested sample. This technique has unique advantages in the analysis of antibiotics in food for both screening and quantitative methods. However, such instrumental analytical methods are often time consuming and costly. Establishing an accurate and rapid detection method for residues of nitrofurans in different matrices is essential in these tests.

Our organization also provides nitrofuran analysis (antibiotic) services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.