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Press Release

Charm ROSA Beta-Lactam 30 Second Test Approved by the NCIMS and Certified by AOAC-RI for Screening Milk Tankers

Charm Sciences, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Charm ROSA Beta-lactam 30 Second Test (BL30SEC) has been accepted by the 2019 National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments for screening milk tankers according to the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance Appendix N requirements. 

The Charm BL30SEC test was validated by third party laboratories working in collaboration with the AOAC Research Institute to demonstrate that the method detects US approved beta-lactams at their target/tolerance levels and meets other FDA performance criteria for screening tests for bulk tank milk. The AOAC Research Institute evaluated the test (Performance Test MethodsSM Certificate #061902) according to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine’s protocol for beta-lactam screening tests used to test samples of commingled bulk tank cow milk. 

“At 30 seconds, the Charm ROSA Beta-lactam 30 Second Test is the fastest test available for detecting beta-lactam antibiotics in milk,” said Bob Markovsky, Vice President of Operations for Charm Sciences, and inventor of the test. “This advance in the Charm Rapid One Step Assay (ROSA) technology further reduces the time to verify that milk is screened for beta-lactam antibiotics used to treat animals. The speed of the method opens up new possibilities for dairy sustainability, efficiency, and automation.”

The Charm BL30SEC test is a lateral flow strip that is used with the Charm EZ system. The addition of milk is the only step required to run the test, making it easy and fast to use. The Charm EZ system and ROSA test uses patented technology to monitor and read the test as it is developed, and targets drug sensitivities at regulatory tolerance levels, ensuring that milk will not be unnecessarily rejected below legal levels. Data can be transferred via Ethernet connection to network systems for full traceability, and the system sends automatic alerts when positive loads are detected.  

About NCIMS
The National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments was formed in a Memorandum of Understanding with the Food and Drug Administration and meets biennially to update Grade A milk requirements documented in a public health document called the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.  Appendix N of the document mandates commingled raw milk tankers received into dairy are tested by NCIMS approved beta-lactam methods before unloading. For more information, visit www.ncims.org. 

About AOAC-RI
This method’s performance was reviewed by AOAC Research Institute and was found to perform to the manufacturer’s specifications.  The AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI) was incorporated in 1991 as a wholly owned subsidiary of AOAC INTERNATIONAL. The AOAC-RI serves as an independent, third-party, nongovernment administrator of AOAC conformity assessment programs including the AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) and Official Methods of AnalysisSM (OMA) programs for alternative and sole source methods. For more information, visit www.aoac.org.

About Charm Sciences

Established in 1978 in Greater Boston, Charm Sciences helps protect consumers, manufacturers, and global brands from a variety of issues through the development of food safety, water quality, and environmental diagnostics tests and equipment. Selling directly and through its network of distributors, Charm’s products serve the dairy, feed and grain, food and beverage, water, healthcare, environmental, and industrial markets in more than 100 countries around the globe. http://charmdev-websitetestlink.charm.com