Charm Sciences Receives 5-Year USDA Contract for Antibiotic Test

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) awarded Charm Sciences a contract to provide Charm KIS Tests to USDA inspectors at slaughter facilities to screen for sulfonamides and antibiotic drugs under the National Residue Program. FSIS will begin implementing the Charm KIS Test in phases starting with cattle (FSIS notice 50-09), and eventually implement it for all livestock.

“The USDA contract provides an important diagnostic and prevention program for the quality of US beef and pork, and affirms Charm Sciences’ resolute c

Iowa City, IA (1888PressRelease) July 17, 2009 - Charm Sciences, Inc. is pleased to announce a 5-year renewable contract award by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to provide Charm KIS™ (Kidney Inhibition Swab) tests to USDA inspectors at slaughter facilities to screen for sulfonamides and antibiotic drugs under the National Residue Program.

FSIS will begin implementing the Charm KIS Test in phases starting with cattle (FSIS notice 50-09), and eventually implement it for all livestock.

Fusing simplicity, speed, and sensitivity, the Charm KIS test rapidly screens broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs in both fresh and thawed tissue. The KIS test detects close to kidney tolerances for sulfonamides, beta-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, macrolides, and lincosamides. The KIS test has been successfully applied to beef and pork kidney, poultry serum, water, feed extracts, and live animal urine samples.

“The USDA contract provides an important diagnostic and prevention program for the quality of US beef and pork, and affirms Charm Sciences’ resolute commitment to a safe food supply,” said Dr. Stanley Charm, President of Charm Sciences.

KIS reagents are self-contained, solvent-free, and pre-measured in a single-use, disposable swab. Testing can be performed in a farm, slaughter house or laboratory setting. The KIS test requires no sample preparation or extraction and is performed in four easy steps:

(1) Cut tissue with KIS housing
(2) Absorb sample on the KIS swab
(3) Re-insert swab into housing and twist to activate test
(4) Incubate for 3 hours and observe color change.

KIS incubators are available for low, medium, and high sample throughput.

About Charm Sciences, Inc.
Charm Sciences is the world leader in food and feed safety diagnostic tests. Charm Sciences continues its 31 year history of providing unique food safety solutions to maximize brand protection, quality, and value to the manufacturer and the consumer.

Contact:
Charm Sciences, Inc.
Telephone: +1 978.687.9200
Fax: +1 978.687.9216
E-Mail: info ( @ ) charm dot com
Web: http://www.charm.com

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