Randox Laboratories has developed three biochip arrays for the detection of a variety of antimicrobial agents.
These arrays enable simultaneous multi-analyte testing of up to 12 antimicrobials from a single sample.
Antimicrobial Array I tests for sulphonamides, Array II for general antibiotics and Array III for nitrofurans, chloramphenicol and malachite green.
These antimicrobials are used in human and veterinary medicine and their use in food-producing animals could result in potentially harmful concentrations in tissue, organs and milk.
This can lead to allergies, for example, to sulphonamide drugs, which are relatively common and include skin rash, hives and anaphylaxis.
Maximum residue limits have been set for the majority of these anti-microbial agents therefore screening on a regular basis is imperative.
Randox's biochip array technology is based on established Elisa principles utilising competitive chemiluminescent immunoassays.
The biochip contains an array of immobilised antibodies each specific to a different antimicrobial.
With as little as 50ul of urine or 1g of tissue, the antimicrobial analytes on each array can be analysed concurrently.
The antimicrobial arrays are analysed on the semi-automated Evidence Investigator, generating 540 tests in less than two hours.
These arrays all provide good sensitivity, precision and recovery.