Beta-agonists have chemical structures, similar to the naturally occurring catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline. They were originally produced for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Beta-agonists facilitate the use of fats rather than glucose as a fuel source. Therefore, meat production is increased while fat deposition is inhibited. This improves the meat: fat ratio of animals and leads to the production of higher quality meat at lower cost. There is a risk that residues of Beta-agonists may be present in meat products, which may be harmful to the consumer. The use of Beta-agonists as growth promoters has been banned in most countries. Consequently, it is important that abuse of these compounds is monitored. The Randox Food Diagnostics Beta-agonists ELISA test kit detects 12 Beta-agonist compounds across a range of food and veterinary matrices. This kit has been evaluated by the Laboratory of Racing Chemistry in Japan in two stages.
Beta-agonist ELISA
Assay
|
Compound
|
Cross Reactivity 100% Clenbuterol
|
Cross Reactivity 100% Salbutamol
|
LOD (ppb)
|
Beta-agonists
|
Clenbuterol
|
100
|
116
|
Tissue 0.25
Urine 0.3
Serum 0.25
Feed 5.0
Hair / feather 1.0
Milk 0.2
Milk powder 0.2
|
Cimbuterol
|
112
|
130
|
Bromochlorbuterol
|
91
|
106
|
Carbuterol
|
90
|
105
|
Salbutamol
|
86
|
100
|
Methyl-Clenbuterol
|
75
|
87
|
Clenpenterol hydrochloride
|
65
|
76
|
Brombuterol
|
53
|
61
|
Terbutaline
|
50
|
58
|
Mabuterol
|
45
|
52
|
Mapenterol
|
32
|
37
|
Pirbuterol
|
25
|
29
|
Cimaterol
|
10
|
12
|
Clenproperol
|
9
|
11
|
Ractopamine
|
< 0.2
|
<0.2
|
Feneterol
|
< 0.2
|
<0.2
|
Clorprenaline
|
1
|
1.2
|
Penbutolol
|
48
|
56
|
Tulobuterol
|
23
|
27
|