Screening methods used for the detection of veterinary drug residues in raw cow milk – a review

Abstract

At both national and international levels, increasing attention is paid to the evaluation of the risk of occurrence of veterinary drug residues in foodstuffs and foods of animal origin, and to the introduction of appropriate measures to reduce this risk. The design and strategy of antibiotics and sulphonamide detection in milk involve two different aspects: the ability to sell the milk depending on its quality (technological safety), and the health safety of the milk regulated by the recent legislative regulations (toxicological safety). Veterinary drug residues in milk represent a health risk for the consumer. This review describes the methods used for extensive monitoring of antimicrobial agents – microbial inhibitor methods and rapid specific assays.