ANALYTICAL SCREENING METHOD FOR DETECTING RESIDUES OF FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTICS IN MILK.

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are widely used to prevent or treat bacterial infections and are a growth promoter to increase food efficiency. Their residues may cause bacterial resistance, allergic hypersensitivity, and toxic effects predicting a potential risk to human health. This study aimed to detect residues of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in milk using the ELISA screening method. A total of 130 milk samples were examined for the presence of quinolone antibiotic residues and were collected in 2015 under a national residue monitoring plan. Samples were collected and delivered by authorized inspection personnel. Samples were analyzed for residues of quinolone antibiotics using an ELISA test kit (type AB685 from TECNA, Trieste, Italy). The methods were validated in accordance with the recommendations made by European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The data obtained confirmed that the methods were appropriate for the detection of specific antibiotics, at the level of concentration of interest. The linear regression analysis revealed good correlation factors with R2=0.994. The validation procedure was carried out by the criteria laid down in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The detection limit (LOD) for fluoroquinolons was 6.17 (μg/kg) and the detection capability (CCβ) was 77.62 (μg/kg). Recoveries were in the range of 75.03%. The values obtained for the CCβ were below the MRL (maximum residue limits). None of the samples analyzed had a value higher than the minimum required level of performance of the screening method. Validation of the successful method according to the requirements of the European Union and its sensitivity and specificity, simple and good, to arrive at the unambiguous identification of fluoroquinolone antibiotic residues in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]