LGC Standards introduces two new reference materials for
milk safety

29-03-2011

New reference material identifies oxytetracycline in milk

LGC Standards expands its range of certified reference materials for food safety, with two new reference materials for oxytetracycline in cow’s milk applicable to European Union (EU) regulations.

Oxytetracycline is a broad-spectrum veterinary antibiotic and is highly effective against many pathogenic bacteria. It is widely used in lactating and non-lactating dairy cattle for the treatment of bacterial infections such as enteritis, pneumonia, and diphtheria.

Regulatory limits protect consumers from over-exposure to oxytetracycline, stipulating a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 100 μg /kg milk (EU Commission Regulation No. 37/2010). The new certified reference materials (CRMs) meet the requirements of these regulations and are intended for method validation and quality control.

The two CRMs were produced by IRMM in accordance with ISO Guides 34 and 35 using a spray-dried milk powder as the matrix in order to meet stability requirements while assuring good reconstitution properties. The new products are now available from LGC Standards and consist of oxytetracycline at a certified value of 101 ± 11 μg/kg in partially skimmed milk (ERM-BB492) and partially skimmed milk blank material (ERM-BB493).

John Points, Head of Residues at LGC said: “These new CRMs will be valuable tools across the milk safety spectrum, from validating sample-to-sample matrix effects in high-specification LC-MS methods, to routine quality control for dairy industry inhibition assays.”

LGC Standards has a wide selection of milk reference materials as well as a proficiency testing scheme for chemical analysis in a comprehensive range of dairy matrices (Dairy Chemistry Scheme).

For further information on these CRMs, proficiency testing schemes or any other products from LGC Standards, please contact askus@lgcstandards.com

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Notes to editors
About LGC Standards
LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com) provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose LGC Science & Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 100,000 products, including reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards (produced under ISO Guide 34 accreditation), biological standards and reagents, and proficiency testing. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and the US.

About LGC
LGC (www.lgc.co.uk) is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. LGC operates in a variety of markets which underpin the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for both public and private sector clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, LGC Genomics, LGC Standards and LGC Science & Technology. The latter includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supports LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement.

Our operations are extensively accredited to international quality standards such as ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs ca 1,400 staff in 29 laboratories and centres globally. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.