Aflatoxins analysis

1.Initial assays will involve detection by HPLC, with confirmation by LC-MS. In countries where mycotoxins have been monitored in baby food, the methods used frequently involved immunoaffinity columns cleanup and HPLC or MS quantitation.


High-performance liquid chromatography (or High pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC) is a form of column chromatography used frequently in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to separate, identify, and quantify compounds. HPLC utilizes a column that holds chromatographic packing material (stationary phase), a pump that moves the mobile phase(s) through the column, and a detector that shows the retention times of the molecules. Retention time varies depending on the interactions between the stationary phase, molecules being analyzed, and the solvent(s) used.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography (aka HPLC) with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry. LC-MS is a powerful technique used for many applications which has very high sensitivity and specificity. Generally its application is oriented towards the specific detection and potential identification of chemicals in the presence of other chemicals (in a complex mixture).

2. Detection and estimation for aflatoxin were done by using the thin layer chromatography method (TLC). Thin layer chromatography method is one of the commonest and widely used techniques to detect different types of food contaminants. Comparison of toxicity levels for aflatoxin was done by comparing fluorescence of sample spot with fluorescence of standard.

Thin-Layer Chromatography :
Thin layer chromatography (TLC) , also known as flat bed chromatography or planar chromatography is one of the most widely used separation techniques in aflatoxin analysis. Since 1990, it has been considered the AOAC official method and the method of choice to identify and quantitate aflatoxins at levels as low as 1 ng/g. The TLC method is also used to verify findings by newer, more rapid techniques .

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=410262
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LC/MS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPLC
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/aflatoxin/aflatoxin.html