Aflatoxin analytical procedure

In some modern instruments, a variation of this procedure is used to determine if an analyte concentration exceeds or is less than some threshold level. Feature 8-2 gives an example of how such a comparator can be used to determine whether the level of aflatoxin in a sample exceeds the level that would indicate a toxic situation. The exact concentration of aflatoxin is not needed only an indieation that the threshold has been exceeded is necessary. Alternatively, a simple eomparison with several standards can be used to indicate the approximate concentration of the analyte. 

The evaluation of a number of immunoassay diagnostic kits was undertaken to determine their usefulness in a regulatory analytical laboratory environment in the food, feed and pesticide areas. Four rapid enzyme immunoassay tests for the detection of aflatoxin residues at the 20 ppb level in animal feeds were compared to the official HPLC procedure. In the pesticide area, a commercial pentachlorophenol competitive inhibition assay for residues in water was investigated as to its applicability to poultry and pork liver matrices. In addition, an ELISA screening procedure for the herbicide fusilade was developed. Modifications were incorporated into the rapid immunoband 1-2 Test procedure for the detection of motile Salmonella in various food and animal feed products resulting in quicker analysis than the standard culture method. Also, a comparative evaluation of a Quik-Card Test for sulphamethazine drug residues in pork urine, liver and muscle tissue, is described. 

Our contribution in analytical methods include column cleanup procedures and separation of different fractions , methods for af la toxin in milk, and an ultrasensitive mass spectral method capable of quantitative analysis at the nanogram level of a mixture of aflatoxins (without the need for separation) with proof of identity ... 

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