Neogen's BetaStar® Plus Dairy Antibiotic Test Approved by FDA/NCIMS

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Jun 06, 2011, 08:45 ET

LANSING, Mich., June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) has received approval from the FDA and National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) for its quick and easy BetaStar® Plus assay, developed for use in the United States to detect dairy antibiotic residues, including ceftiofur, in milk. This approval allows milk producers and processors in the U.S. to use Neogen's new test to comply with FDA regulations that require the mandatory testing of raw milk tankers for dairy antibiotic residues, under Appendix N of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO).

Neogen's newly approved BetaStar Plus test detects dairy antibiotic residues in the beta-lactam group (penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephapirin, ceftiofur and cloxacillin) at or below U.S. FDA regulatory levels. BetaStar is an extremely simple dipstick test that requires only minimal training and equipment to produce consistently accurate results.

"This approval process was very thorough, and proves that our new test is fully capable of delivering the accurate results that milk producers and processors demand," said Ed Bradley, Neogen's vice president for Food Safety. "BetaStar Plus was developed specifically to meet the regulatory tolerances for beta-lactam antibiotics, including ceftiofur, for milk in the U.S. market, and is a new version of our BetaStar test that is a market leader in approximately 40 countries around the world."

BetaStar Plus is one of the fastest dairy antibiotic tests available, and can be used on the farm, at the tanker, or in the laboratory. BetaStar Plus had previously earned an important approval from the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI 021107) after rigorous testing.

Antibiotics have been used in cows for many years to treat common infections of the mammary system. As animal genetics and husbandry practices have improved over the past several years, average milk production per cow has increased. This has often resulted in the use of more antibiotics to protect animal health. The beta-lactam group of antibiotics is responsible for approximately 95% of all milk antibiotic contamination.

In addition to BetaStar Plus, Neogen also offers BetaStar Combo, a dairy antibiotic residue test for beta-lactam and tetracycline residues. Neogen's other solutions for the dairy industry include: rapid milk allergen tests, rapid foodborne pathogen and indicator organism tests, an unequaled sanitation monitoring ATP system, a full line of cleaners and disinfectants, rodenticides, and animal care instruments, including needles and syringes.

Neogen Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company's Animal Safety Division markets a complete line of diagnostics, veterinary instruments, veterinary pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, disinfectants, and rodenticides. Neogen's Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media, and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, genetic modifications, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and sanitation concerns.

SOURCE Neogen Corporation