Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Practice Exam

Is screening for therapeutic drug residues classified as an indirect or direct measurement?

1. Indirect

2. Direct

3. Qualitative

4. Quantitative

The correct answer is: Direct

Screening for therapeutic drug residues is classified as a direct measurement because it involves the actual detection and quantification of drug substances present in a sample. Direct measurements provide immediate data about the presence and concentration of specific substances without the need for inferential methods or estimates. In the context of HACCP, direct measurements are crucial because they allow food safety professionals to assess potential hazards associated with drug residues in food products. By performing direct screenings, one can establish whether drug residues exceed allowable limits and ensure compliance with safety regulations. This method directly ties the measurement to the hazard being assessed, making it a more straightforward approach than indirect methods, which might involve estimates or extrapolation based on other data. The other answer choices pertain to different measurement methodologies or categorizations that do not apply to the specific nature of screening for drug residues. Qualitative measurements relate to the presence or absence of a substance rather than its amount, while quantitative measurements focus on the concentration but do not directly involve the process of detection. The classification as indirect doesn’t align with the nature of direct chemical analysis used in drug residue testing.