RACTOPAMINE Antibody (OAAD00413)

Ractopamine is a phenolethanolamine Ã-adrenoceptor agonist that is used for the improvement of weight gain, carcass leanness and feed efficiency in pigs. It has been known for years that ractopamine enhances growth in meat animals by repartitioning nutrients. This means that the nutrients that the animal consumes in its feed are shifted away from being stored as fat and are instead used in lean tissue production. This shift occurs as the animal reaches the top of its growth curve and lean tissue production drops off and fat deposition increases. Fat levels also appear to decrease, due to an increase in lypolysis (fat breakdown). Using the ractopamine monoclonal antibody, it is possible to detect ractopamine and other agonists in urine, muscle and liver both rapidly and with accuracy.

Antibodies are purified by protein G affinity chromatography.