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Veterinary medicines

Team role

There are two elements to our veterinary drug residues work:

Surveillance

The team's main objective is to analyse animal tissues and products for veterinary drug residues through a comprehensive and competitive analytical service. We work on behalf of UK and overseas government surveillance schemes and the private sector, supporting the due-diligence requirements of food manufacturers, suppliers and retailers. In addition, we provide specialist training in analytical methods for scientists from laboratories worldwide.

Fera provides comprehensive veterinary drug residue surveillance to both government and industry.

Research and development

Our R&D activities underpin our surveillance work. Our main objective is to develop and validate improved methodology for detecting veterinary drug residues in food. This work is carried out primarily on behalf of Defra's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

Fera undertakes the duties of a UK National Reference Laboratory in this area.

Science Themes:

Analytical services for veterinary residues testing

Our scientists have wide ranging experience of working with Government departments and the Food Industry to develop and implement monitoring programmes for veterinary residues in animal tissue and products.

Fera holds National Reference Laboratory status for antimicrobial compounds and offers a wide range of testing accredited to ISO17025 and compliant with Commission Decision 2002/657/EC ( required for formal testing under EU National Residues Programmes).

A comprehensive and confidential testing service is available that can be tailored to individual customer needs.

Method development

Our experience in setting up and validating new methods allows us to offer method development services for matrix/analyte combinations not already covered by our standard services (including samples other than animal tissues).

Problem solving and Technical advice

Our analytical testing services and technical knowledge can be applied to problem solving for the Food Industry. Examples of previous applications are:

  • Tracing the origin of coccidiostat residues in poultry and game to contaminated feed.
  • Identifying surface contamination of fish with triphenylmethane dyes and tracing the origin to storage materials.
  • Identifying ionophore contamination of feed as the cause of camel deaths.

Training in analytical services

Our scientists are experienced in training Government and Food Industry Scientists and Managers from The Americas, Europe and Asia. Fera organises regular courses on topical issues. Requests for more tailored training can often be met.

Key scientific staff

Chris Ridgway - Team leader |

Key team publications

G.Stubbings & T.Bigwood. (2009). The development and validation of a multiclass liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) procedure for the determination of veterinary drug residues in animal tissue using a QuEChERS (QUick, Easy, CHeap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) approach. Analytica Chimica Acta. Available On-line. Publication pending.

H. Thomson, R. Waite, S. Wilkins, M.A. Brown, T. Bigwood, M. Shaw, C. Ridgway & M. Sharman. (2006). Effects of shook swarm and supplementary feeding on oxytetracycline levels in honey extracted from treated colonies. Apidologie 37: 51-57.

J. A. Tarbin, J. Bygrave, T. Bigwood, D. Hardy, M. Rose, & M. Sharman. (2005). The effect of cooking on veterinary drug residues in food: Nicarbazin (Dinitrocarbanilide component). Food Additives and Contaminants 22(11): 1126-1131.

Stubbings G, Tarbin J, Cooper A, Sharman M, Bigwood T, Robb P. (2005). A multi-residue cation-exchange clean up procedure for basic drugs in produce of animal origin. Analytica Chimica Acta 547: 262-268.

Thompson HM, Waite RJ, Wilkins S, Brown MA, Bigwood T, Shaw M, Ridgway C, Sharman M. (2005). Effects of European foulbrood treatment regime on oxytetracycline levels in honey extracted from treated honeybee (Apis melliFera) colonies and toxicity to brood. Food Additives and Contaminants 22: 573-578.

Ashwin HM, Stead SL, Taylor JC, Startin JR, Richmond SF, Homer V, Bigwood T, Sharman M. (2005). Development and validation of screening and confirmatory methods for the detection of chloramphenicol and chloramphenicol glucuronide using SPR biosensor and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta 529: 103-108.