MeRA Test
Microbiological test with spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus
for the detection of antimicrobial agent residues in meat
www.liofilchem.net
Clear color change
Results within 4 hours
interpretation
Some groups of antimicrobial agents, including beta-lactams and tetracyclines, are thermo-sensitive: the
molecules belonging to those chemical classes are rapidly inactivated at growth temperature of
thermophilic bacteria. The MeRA Test includes a quick pre-incubation in which G. stearothermophilus is
allowed to germinate and proliferate, followed by a phase at room temperature suitable to allow the
contact between the vegetative form of Geobacillus and the thermo-sensitive antibiotics, if present in the
sample. Finally, the tube is reintroduced into the incubator for the last incubation. The incubation sequence
of MeRA Test is the critical characteristic that allows the method to reach extremely low detection limits.
MeRA Test
Ref. 80356
Content of the package: 50 tests
LIOFILCHEM® s.r.l. rev. 3 - 24.05.2011
Via Scozia zona ind.le, 64026 Roseto degli Abruzzi (Te) Italy
Tel. +39 0858930745 Fax +39 0858930330 www.liofilchem.net [email protected]
Test procedure
1 2 3
Weigh about 50 g of meat. Cut up the tissue and Add 2 g of minced meat and mL 6 of distilled water
Homogenize for a few seconds at 13000 rpm.
mince further by electric mixer. in a 10 mL tube. (meat:water 1:3 ratio)
4 5 6
Centrifuge the homogenized meat by tabletop
Add 1 disc of spores to the medium. Preincubate for 20’ at 64 °C.
centrifuge set at 4000 rpm for 15'.
7 8 9
Watch for the color change
of the medium in the vials.
No color change (gree-blue color): meat sample
Remove the vial from the incubator and let it reach Reintroduce the vial in the waterbath or in the containing antimicrobial agent residues in
room temperature (roughly 5'). Introduce 1 mL of Termoblock at 64 °C for the second incubation for concentration above the detection limits.
the matrix sample. Let the antimicrobial agent, if 3h - 3h 30’. Color change (yellow color): meat sample
present, act at room temperature for 20’. containing no antimicrobial agent residues, or
residues in concentration under the detection
limits.
MRL for meat 1 MeRA Test Sensitivity in 3h 30' 2
Antimicrobial agents
MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS (μg/kg) DETECTION LIMITS (μg/kg)
BETA-LACTAMS
Ampicillin 50 25-50
Oxacillin 300 150-300
Cloxacillin 300 150-300
Dicloxacillin 300 150-300
Amoxicillin 50 25-50
Benzylpenicillin 50 25-50
Penethamate 50 25-50
Cefalexin 200 100-200
Ceftiofur 1000 <500
Cefquinome 50 25-50
TETRACYCLINES
Tetracycline 100 100-200
Clorotetracycline 100 100-200
Oxytetracycline 100 100-200
Doxycycline 100 100-200
MACROLIDES
Erithromycin 200 200-400
Tylosin 100 100-200
Tilmicosin 50 100-200
Spiramycin 200 200-400
LINCOSAMIDES
lincomycin 100 100-200
Pirlimycin 100 50-100
AMINOGLYCOSIDES
Gentamicin 50 100-200
Neomycin 500 500-1000
Streptomycin 500 500-1000
Dihydrostreptomycin 500 500-1000
SULPHAMIDES
Sulfadiazine 100 50-100
SULFANILAMIDES
Sulfadimidine 100 50-100
BENZIL PIRIMIDINE
Trimethoprim 50 50-100
QUINOLONES
Flumequine 200 200-400
Enrofloxacin 100 50-100
1. Data referred to bovine muscle. Check the Regulation 37/2010 for the full data.
2. Sensitivity of MeRA Test to antimicrobial agents commonly used in veterinary medicine and relevant MRL (Maximum Residue Limits) values valid in Europe.
(Regulation 37/2010 EC).
