November 22, 2005

US' FDA studies new tests for cattle feed

The US' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is studying new and more precise tests to identify prohibited proteins in cattle feed.

Now being evaluated in a programme set up to refine the analytical techniques for feed testing, the third-generation DNA tests are revealed by the FDA after the agency was criticised by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for its 'timeliness' in conducting a small-scale program to test feed for materials prohibited in the 1997 feed rule.

The programme, which began in August 2003, is still underway at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. Also being studied is the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to reduce the analysis period in identifying the protein's species origin.

Previously, FDA have explored two generations of conventional PCR tests-both DNA forensic kits-that can extract DNA from animal feed and feed ingredients.