IMMUNOAFFINITY COLUMN CLEANUP IN ELISA: ADVANCEMENTS IN RACTOPAMINE DETECTION FOR SWINE TISSUES

Abstract

The misuse of agonists as growth promoters in meat-producing animals has persisted for over two decades, with ractopamine (RCT) emerging as a primary illicit substance for this purpose. Ractopamine, a phenethanolamine leanness-enhancing agent, has garnered approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2000; Muirhead, 2000) and regulatory bodies in various countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines, as a feed additive for swine (Shelver and Smith, 2002). Despite its authorized usage, phenethanolamine agonists have a history of unauthorized application by livestock producers (Kuiper et al., 1998; Mitchell and Dunnavan, 1998; Shiu and Chong, 2001). This paper aims to explore the ongoing challenges associated with the misuse of agonists in meat production and the specific case of ractopamine, highlighting its regulatory approval juxtaposed with its unauthorized use in the industry