This disease can affect any poultry house, damaging the intestinal tract, stunting the growth of infected birds, this in turn then reduces the economic return for the producer.

Traditionally antiprotozoals and feed medications are used to treat it and prevent the development of secondary bacterial disease. These treatments are vital in the efforts to reduce the impact of coccidiosis on poultry production.

As treatment is required, the EU and FDA have enforced strict regulations regarding the use of these antiprotozoals in order to protect the end consumers.

Before processing poultry for human consumption, processors are lawfully required to ensure that the antiprotozoal used in the treatment of coccidiosis has left the system of the animal to the acceptable limits. How then can processors ensure they are meeting these drug residue requirements?

Simultaneous detection

For the detection of coccidiostat drug residues, Biochip Array Technology (BAT) has been identified as an industry leader.

The Randox Food Coccidiostat Array produces a semi-quantitative result for all of the following 12 analytes: Lasalocid, Nicarbazin, Imidocarb, Toltrazuril, Maduramicin, Salnomycin, Clopidol, Monensin, Robenidine, Decoquinate, Halofuginone & Diclazuril from a single sample.

BAT uses competitive chemiluminescent immunoassays and in conjunction with the semi-automated Evidence Investigator analyser determines a concentration within a sample. With BAT detecting up to 22 analytes from a single sample in less than 2 hours and with less than 5 per cent false positives and no false negatives, users can enjoy increased efficiency as well as confidence in results.

^{Written by Gary Smith, Randox Food Diagnostics}