United States-Drug testing meat.

UNITED STATES-DRUG TESTING MEAT.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has bought a testing system to screen beef and poultry for high levels of drug residue, the company that makes the system said Friday.

Waters Corp. makes the ACQUITY TQD system, which tests the meats for high levels of drugs. It will be used in the Agriculture Department’s Wyndmoor, Pa., lab.

Milford, Mass.-based Waters said the drugs are often given to animals to prevent disease and boost growth. The test is meant to identify animals that have been given banned drugs or too much of the legal drugs.