Immunoassays for Analysis of Mycotoxins

During the past few years, several laboratories have prepared specific antibodies against aflatoxins B₁, M₁, B_2a and Q₁, ochratoxin A, T-2 toxin, and zearalenone. These antibodies were obtained from rabbits after immunizing with various mycotoxin-protein conjugates. With the availability of these antibodies, specific, simple and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures for monitoring mycotoxins and their metabolites in foods, feeds and body fluids have been developed. In this review, details are presented for the preparation of antibodies and the application of RIA and ELISA to determine aflatoxins B₁ and M₁, ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in corn, peanuts, milk and other biological fluids. The sensitivity of ELISA for analysis of these mycotoxins in foods varied from 0.1 μg/L for aflatoxin M₁ in milk to 5 μg/kg of aflatoxin B₁ in peanuts. The advantages and disadvantages of ELISA for monitoring mycotoxins in foods and feeds are discussed. In addition, a description of recent progress on simplified clean-up procedures which may increase the sensitivity of immunoassays is presented.