Analysis of mycotoxins

The analytical methods for mycotoxin determination used in fully developed countries require sophisticated infrastructure, stable electricity, ready availability of supplies, and qualified and experienced technicians for instrument maintenance. Simple and appropriately validated tools analogous to those used for the management of contaminated bulk commodities at the grain elevator level are needed at the rural level in developing countries. These tools are needed to promote public health and to manage emergency situations in subsistence farming communities with an immediate and severe problem of mycotoxin contamination of food grains, with the goal of working towards feasible reductions in exposure. Two general analytical approaches that require less infrastructure are described here. The first approach is thin-layer chromatography (TLC), which has been used for more than 50 years to analyse mycotoxins. The advantages of TLC include simplicity and proven reliability. Accuracy may be improved by using precision spotters to apply precise amounts of sample to TLC plates and optical readers. The costs of these refinements to TLC are far lower than those of gas or liquid chromatography systems. The disadvantages of TLC include the need for stable supplies of solvents and standards as well as safe conditions for their storage. The second approach described here is based on immunological methods using anti-mycotoxin antibodies. These tests are available as kits, have the necessary standards built in, use little or no organic solvent, and are generally easy to use. The disadvantages of these methods include the need to refrigerate the kits before use and the limited shelf-life. It has been proposed that companies and development agencies could be solicited to develop packages of kits, sampling equipment (e.g. grinders), and training models for deployment in the many areas where mycotoxins are a chronic problem.