Presence of tetracyclines, quinolones, lincomycin and streptomycin in milk

We assessed the presence of tetracyclines, quinolones, lincomycin, and streptomycin in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk samples (n = 148) and pasteurized milk samples (n = 50) from China using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay-based visualization microarray chip technique. The detection rates of tetracyclines, quinolones, lincomycin, and streptomycin were 4.7%, 3.3%, 2.7%, and 15.5%, respectively, in UHT milk and 16.0%, 4.0%, 2.0%, and 14.0%, respectively, in pasteurized milk. The maximum levels of tetracyclines, quinolones, lincomycin, and streptomycin in the sample were 9.06 mu g kg(-1), 4.06 mu g kg(-1), 7.66 mu g kg(-1), and 8.92 mu g kg(-1), respectively, which are lower than the maximum residue levels established in China, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, and the European Union, indicating the milk production/marketing system might be adequately controlling the antibiotic residue risk. However, considering the limited sample numbers, and relative high detection rates in spring and summer which might pose a health risk on population, control measures still need to be strictly enforced to keep these residues at safe levels.