New antibiotic test kit booming in Eastern Europe

Recently launched BetaStar® Combo, the quickest single test available to simultaneously detect beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotic residues in milk, is a major hit.

As the international distributor of Neogen Corporation’s dairy antibiotic tests Chr. Hansen has expanded its offering of dairy antibiotic tests for the worldwide dairy industry to include BetaStar® Combo. In just 5 minutes, the new product is the fastest assay for beta-lactams and tetracyclines in a single test.

The new product has been well received by the market, not least in Eastern Europe where sales in Belarus have tripled. This sustains Chr. Hansen’s position as the leading provider of dairy antibiotic tests in Europe today.

Growing need for a single test

“As the use of both tetracycline and beta-lactam antibiotics for the management of mastitis in dairy herds has grown in certain regions of the world, the need for a single test to simultaneously detect both groups of antibiotics has also grown,” says Ed Bradley, Neogen’s vice president of Food Safety.

Developed to comply with the European Union’s maximum residue levels, BetaStar® Combo utilizes the same format as the popular BetaStar assay—an extremely easy lateral flow test that requires only minimal training and equipment to produce consistently accurate results.

Solves a serious problem

“Antibiotic residues pose a major problem to the dairy industry as they can inhibit or slow down starter cultures in yoghurt and cheese making,” explains Ole Madsen, Marketing Manager Dairy Enzymes & Tests, Chr. Hansen.

“This could result in major losses to the dairy concerned. BetaStar® Combo, due to its ability to test for two major antibiotics groups in just five minutes, can help screen milk at the farm or before unloading the truck at the dairy. This will minimize the amounts of milk that may have to be discarded and eventually help maximise cost efficiency,” Madsen adds.

Fighting antibiotic resistance

Another very serious issue of antibiotic residues is the consequences that affect human health. Residues can promote antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria and cause allergy and hypersensitivity in human beings.

“Betastar® Combo helps catching more antibiotics earlier in the milk chain. In combination with our offering of broad range microbiological test kits Chr. Hansen is able to offer a comprehensive testing solution that ensures as well as possible that antibiotic residues do not get through to consumer products”, Madsen explains.

Strict legislation in Russia drives sales boom in Eastern Europe

The market boom in Eastern Europe is to a large extent driven by the fact that more tests for antibiotic residues are required in Russia in order to ensure better quality and safer milk for the consumers. Neighboring countries exporting milk to Russia must live up to these legislative demands as well, and Chr. Hansen has seized this market opportunity.

“A text book example of cross-functional teamwork between our sales, marketing and sourcing people and of course our partner, Neogen, has enabled us to move fast and get a headstart on this promising market,” says Adam Matyjek, Country Manager, Chr. Hansen Poland and responsible for the Belarussian market, where sales of test kits have tripled over the past year.

“We are also satisfied that we could so quickly help Belarussian dairy companies to find a proper solution and fulfil Russian requirements, allowing them to keep their so important export of dairy products without turbulence”, concludes Matyjek.