Description
AOZ FAST ELISA Ordering Information
| Cat Code. | Method | Assay Time | Limit of Detection (LoD) | Cross Reactivity |
| BXEFB41A | ELISA 96T | 45mins | Fish/ Shrimp: 0.06ppb Aqueous Buffer: 0.05ppb Meat: 0.05pb Honey I: 0.1ppb Honey II: 0.3ppb |
2.NP.AOZ 100% |
Antibiotic residues in food present a significant public health concern, particularly those belonging to the nitrofuran class of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, including furaltadone, furazolidone, nitrofurantoin, and nitrofurazone. These compounds have historically been used in food-producing animals to treat and prevent infections. However, due to evidence of potential carcinogenic effects and other health risks, their use has been banned in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union. In addition, strict regulations prohibit the import of food products containing detectable nitrofuran residues.
To protect consumers, ongoing monitoring of food products and environmental sources such as water is essential. This helps ensure that prohibited veterinary drugs are not misused and do not enter the human food chain. Surveillance is particularly important in high-risk commodities such as meat and animal-derived products, where residues may persist following veterinary treatment.
A key analytical challenge is that nitrofurans themselves are rapidly metabolised in animal tissues after administration, making direct detection difficult. Instead, attention is focused on their stable, protein-bound metabolites, which remain in edible tissues for much longer periods. One of the most important markers is AOZ (3-amino-2-oxazolidinone), a metabolite derived from furazolidone.
AOZ is particularly suitable for monitoring because it is stable and can be released from tissue under mildly acidic conditions. It is also resistant to degradation during common food processing methods, including cooking, meaning it can still be detected in prepared food products. This stability makes AOZ a reliable indicator of prior nitrofuran use in food-producing animals.
As a result, detection of AOZ plays a critical role in food safety testing programmes, helping laboratories and regulatory bodies ensure compliance with international bans and protect public health from exposure to prohibited veterinary drug residues.