Biorex Food Diagnostics is a sister company to Fortress Diagnostics, an established in vitro diagnostic medical device (IVD) manufacturer based in the UK.
The firm offers enzymatic immunoassay test kits (ELISAs), strip tests and enzymatic assays for detection of microbial and industrial contaminants, natural toxins, hormones, antibiotics and other veterinary drug residues in food and feed.
Chemical residue tests
Morteza Afrasiabi, managing director of Biorex Food Diagnostics, said it received many requests to develop chemical residues tests from customers.
“The recent food scares reported in the media also highlighted that there was a need for these products to ensure that food processors could be confident that the quality of their products were of a good standard,” he told FoodQualityNews.
“Food safety and the perceived quality of food are now more related than ever before. The media has reported many food scares and in turn the consumers now demand a higher quality of foodstuffs.
“Globally all food producers and processors are experiencing more pressure to improve food safety testing, we aim to work alongside these companies to act quickly if they require lower tolerance levels or if new drug tests are required."
ELISA kits
The company’s product range includes ELISA kits for detecting chemical residues such as antibiotics (chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, sulphonamides, tetracyclines), anabolic growth hormones (ractopamine, beta agonists) and mycotoxins (alfatoxins, ochratoxin).
Kits can be used in sample matrices including honey, seafood, milk, feed, nuts and dried fruit.
Afrasiabi said that although ELISA technology is not new, it is a tried and well trusted assay principle by many food laboratories.
“No expensive equipment needs to be purchased to run these tests making it more economically viable to small as well as large food processors. Our kits also use highly specific and sensitive antibodies," he said.
“We are confident that our kits offer quick assay times and easy to use sample preparations in comparison to many commercial kits available for these drugs of interest.”
Biorex Food Diagnostics said it has no approvals as yet as they can involve a lengthy process, however it is hoped that AOAC backing should be gained over the next 12 months if it is an essential requirement from customers.
The firm’s R&D department are developing tests such as aminoglycoside, anthelmintic and ionophore.
It added that food exporters, including meat processors, want to sell product with the best margin possible with some countries willing to pay a premium if they have evidence it is free from chemical residues.
Biorex Food Diagnostics, part of Biorex Diagnostics, was launched at the Medica conference in Germany in October last year and said it already has distributors on board in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.