Comparison of three microbial screening methods for antibiotics using routine monitoring samples

Monitoring large numbers of slaughter animals for the presence of antimicrobial residues is preferably carried out using microbiological screening methods, because of their high cost-effectiveness. An evaluation of the Nouws antibiotic test (NAT) was performed on routine monitoring samples and the performance of the method was compared with two other microbial screening methods: Screening test for antibiotic residues (STAR) and Premi®Test. Analysis of 591 samples yielded four MRL violations. Three of them concerned tetracyclines that were only detected with the NAT and the STAR method. The fourth, 172 μg kg−1 Sulfadiazine, was detected by all three methods. Additionally, 156 μg kg−1 Tulathromycin was found in porcine meat, while for this residue no MRL in muscle has been established.