Tetracyclines

Fera’s food safety experts use accredited analytical methods to detect and quantify tetracyclines and their epimers across a wide range of food matrices. We provide clear, regulatory-ready evidence to verify that residue levels in your food products are compliant.

Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat infections in food-producing animals. Because residues can occur in human food, robust analytical methods are required to monitor these compounds at trace levels.

Fera’s comprehensive screen covers the following tetracyclines: Chlortetracycline, epi-Chlortetracycline, Doxycycline, Oxytetracycline, epi-Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline and epi-Tetracycline.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for tetracyclines are defined in Commission Regulation (EU) 37/2010. For Chlortetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Tetracycline, MRLs in eggs, muscle, liver, kidney and milk are based on the sum of the native compounds and their corresponding epimers. MRLs for Doxycycline are set for muscle, liver, kidney and fat; the Doxycycline epimer is not included, as it is considered biologically inactive by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The analytical method used at Fera is based on QuEChERS extraction followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Methods are validated in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC for the majority of analyte-matrix combinations.

The analysis is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

Multi-Residue Option

This test can be purchased as a standalone analysis or as part of our broader veterinary drug multi-residue screen.

See what’s included in our Multi-residue screen (Option 1).

Confirmatory Analysis

Where required, confirmatory analysis will be charged at the same rate as the primary test. We will contact you before proceeding. Results will be delivered within 10 working days of your instruction.