Aflatoxin measurements: how HPLC methods have evolved over the last 20 years?

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) has provided high quality certified reference materials for decades. Certified reference materials for mycotoxin analysis have been available from the IRMM since 1985. Since then, IRMM has generally characterised reference materials by interlaboratory studies with expert laboratories. Such measurement exercises are based on routinely used analytical procedures in the laboratory, but are driving their performance to the best achievable quality under the given circumstances. Reference materials for aflatoxin measurements have been certified by such studies in 1991, 1993, 2008 and 2009. After two decades, it is time to look back, reflect and ask some questions. How have HPLC methods for the analysis of aflatoxins evolved over the last 20 years? Is there a trend towards a preferred methodology? Does this evolution reflect improvements due to the introduction of standardised methods? Is there an improvement in performance parameters such as repeatability, reproducibility and measurement uncertainty? To answer these questions, data from six interlaboratory studies, performed in the last 20 years for the certification of aflatoxins in peanut meal, peanut butter and animal feed, have been re-evaluated. It is concluded that there is a trend towards a preferred methodology, which reflects developments in standardised methods. No significant improvement in repeatability, reproducibility or measurement uncertainty could, however, be detected in expert laboratories for mycotoxin analysis.