The Charm
Kidney Inhibition Swab (KIS) test is an inhibition test used to detect
antimicrobial drugs in fresh or thawed kidney tissue. The KIS test is used most
frequently by USDA-FSIS inspectors to test beef and pork kidney in slaughter
facilities. The KIS test has also been adapted for on-farm testing of
antibiotics in water, feed extracts, poultry serum and live animal urine and
serum samples, making it an ideal tool for pre-harvest HACCP. USDA inspectors
began using the KIS test to test cattle and swine for antibiotics prior to
2011.
The
KIS test is easy to perform. Cut open the kidney and collect a tissue sample on
the KIS swab. Turn the swab to mix the sample with the reagents and incubate.
Results are ready in about three hours and are read visually as a color change.
The reagents, which include bacteria and a pH indicator, start
out blue/purple. If antibiotics are absent, the bacteria grow and reproduce
which changes the color to yellow/green. If antibiotics are present in the
tissue sample, bacterial growth is inhibited and the sample remains
blue/purple.
To ensure accurate results, KIS reagents are self-contained, solvent-free, and pre-measured in a single-use disposable swab format. Negative control reagent is supplied separately.
Detects broad class of
antimicrobial drugs encompassing 5 antimicrobial classes near US tolerance
levels and EU MRLs
Used by all USDA-FSIS
(Food Safety and Inspection Service) inspectors at slaughter facilities
Designed for testing animal
kidneys at slaughter but adaptable to tissue and can be used as a live animal
pre-screen for antimicrobial contamination
Adaptable to on-farm
testing of antibiotics in water, feed extracts, poultry serum, and live animal
urine
Easy: Swab tissue with
sample, dip swab in reagents, and incubate
Results in 3 hours
Results read visually