[Validation of a HPLC method for ochratoxin A determination].

Area of Science:

• Food Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Mycotoxicology

Background:

• Ochratoxin A is a prevalent mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species.
• This toxin contaminates a wide range of food products, including cereals, coffee, beer, wine, and dairy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a robust High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method for Ochratoxin A determination.
• To ensure accurate and reliable quantification of Ochratoxin A in various food samples.

Main Methods:

• Reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) using a fluorescence detector.
• Analysis employed a Phenomenex Luna C18(2) column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water/acetic acid.
• Detection wavelengths: excitation at 228 nm and emission at 423 nm.

Main Results:

• The calibration graph demonstrated linearity within the 6.25-50 ng/mL range (r² = 0.9991).
• Achieved a low detection limit of 1.6 ng/mL and a quantification limit of 4.9 ng/mL.
• The method exhibited excellent precision (RSD = 2.4975%) and accuracy (100.1% recovery).

Conclusions:

• The developed HPLC method is highly accurate, precise, and sensitive for Ochratoxin A quantification.
• This validated method is suitable for routine analysis of Ochratoxin A in diverse food matrices, contributing to food safety monitoring.