Charm Sciences, Inc. has received a five-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 Programme.

FSIS will begin implementing the Charm KIS Test in phases starting with cattle, 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. 

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:

• Cut tissue with KIS housing
   
• Absorb sample on the KIS swab
   
• Re-insert swab into housing and twist to activate test
   
• Incubate for three hours and observe colour change. 

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

Charm Sciences specialises in food and feed safety diagnostic tests, providing unique food safety solutions to maximise brand protection, quality, and value.