In modern dairy production, ensuring milk safety and quality is not optional — it’s an industry necessity. Contaminants like antibiotics and allergens can compromise product safety, disrupt processing, and lead to costly product recalls. This is where Zeulab Iris in Australia stands out: a compact, automated, and portable dairy testing kit in Australia designed for fast, objective detection of residues and allergens.
With the capacity to deliver results in as little as 6 minutes, Iris is transforming how farmers, truck operators, and processing plants manage their quality assurance.
Why is antibiotic and allergen testing critical in the dairy sector
Antibiotic residues in milk
Antibiotics such as β-lactams and tetracyclines are frequently used in livestock for treating infections. However, residues in raw milk can:
Interfere with fermentation in cheese and yogurt production.
Pose health risks to consumers with antibiotic sensitivities.
Contribute to antimicrobial resistance (a global public health concern).
In Australia, strict limits are enforced for antibiotic residues in milk. According to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), milk must comply with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) to protect consumer safety and maintain international trade credibility. Rapid, on-site testing is therefore critical for compliance.
Allergen detection
Cross-contamination in dairy plants — for example, milk mixtures or traces of other allergens — can pose severe health risks for consumers with food allergies. Having an automated detection system reduces the risk of error compared to manual, subjective tests.
What is Zeulab Iris?
Iris is an incubator-reader designed for rapid strip or cassette tests. Compact and portable, it enables fast, accurate detection of contaminants without requiring laboratory expertise.
Key functions include:
Automatic detection of β-lactams and tetracyclines using BTScan tests.
Objective reading of antibiotics, milk mixtures, and allergens.
Quantitative interpretation of certain assays (e.g., AflaM1Scan or IC Quanti for aflatoxin monitoring).
Connectivity with mobile devices via Bluetooth, plus optional cloud integration for real-time data sharing.
How Iris helps the dairy industry
On-farm testing
Farmers can test raw milk before collection to ensure it is free of antibiotic residues. This prevents costly issues downstream and supports responsible veterinary practices.
In transit (milk trucks)
With its portable design (160g, 85 x 88 x 59 mm) and 4-hour battery life, Iris can be used during milk transport. Testing en route prevents contaminated batches from mixing with compliant milk.
At the processing plant
Before milk is unloaded, Iris enables a rapid 6-minute test to confirm compliance with safety standards. This step helps avoid plant-wide contamination and production delays.
Digital and traceable results
The Iris App provides real-time results directly to mobile devices or uploads to the cloud. This ensures:
Traceability for audit and quality management systems.
Standardised results that remove operator bias from visual strip interpretation.
Faster decision-making, as stakeholders can access data immediately.
Technical overview
| Specification |
Detail |
| Dimensions |
85 x 88 x 59 mm |
| Weight |
160 g |
| Assay Temperature |
40 °C ± |
| Connectivity |
Bluetooth, USB |
| Battery Life |
Up to 4 hours |
| Applications |
Antibiotic detection, allergen monitoring, quantitative toxin analysis |
These specifications underline the practicality of Iris as a field-ready, user-friendly solution for dairy testing.
Benefits of Zeulab Iris for Australian dairies
Speed and efficiency – Results in just 6 minutes enable real-time decision-making.
No specialised training needed – Automatised process makes it accessible for farmers, drivers, and plant operators.
Accuracy and reproducibility – Eliminates variation from human interpretation, ensuring confidence in every result.
Digital transformation in QC – Cloud connectivity integrates seamlessly with modern quality management systems.
Portability – Compact design and battery power make it highly suitable for use at multiple checkpoints in the supply chain.
Iris in the context of Australian dairy quality assurance
Australia’s dairy industry is globally recognised for high standards of safety and quality. With more than 8.7 billion litres of milk produced annually, ensuring every litre meets strict compliance requirements is a monumental task. Rapid screening tools like Zeulab Iris in Australia complement laboratory testing by:
Acting as the first line of defence against non-compliant milk.
Supporting export requirements, where importing countries demand stringent quality assurance.
Enhancing consumer confidence in Australian dairy products.
By integrating Iris into the supply chain, dairies can reduce risk, maintain compliance, and uphold Australia’s global reputation.
Case applications for Iris
Small-scale dairies: On-farm testing ensures compliance before milk enters cooperative systems.
Large processors: Multiple units can be deployed at intake bays for simultaneous testing of several milk tankers.
Allergen-sensitive production lines: Objective allergen testing prevents cross-contamination in specialised dairy products (e.g., lactose-free or allergen-controlled items).
Sustainability and digitalisation
Beyond food safety, Iris aligns with two critical industry trends:
Sustainability: By preventing contaminated batches from entering the system, Iris reduces wastage, transport inefficiencies, and the carbon footprint associated with reprocessing or disposal.
Digital transformation: With cloud-based reporting, dairies can maintain digital audit trails, integrate with ERP/QC software, and streamline compliance reporting.
The Zeulab Iris from Vendart in Australia is more than just a dairy testing kit in Australia — it’s a complete solution for rapid, portable, and reliable quality control. From farms to processing plants, Iris helps safeguard consumer health, protect brand reputation, and keep dairy operations efficient.
In a sector where every minute and every batch counts, adopting Iris means adopting accuracy, speed, and traceability.
For Further Enquiry Contact: sales@vendart.com.au
