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International Proficiency Test Targeting a Large Panel of Botulinum Neurotoxin Sero- and Subtypes in Different
Christine Rasetti-Escargueil1, Michel Robert Popoff1, Bettina Kampa2
1Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, UMR CNRS 6047, Inserm U1306, Université Paris-Cité, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris, France.
Toxins
|November 26, 2024
Summary
This study evaluated inter-laboratory proficiency tests for detecting botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). Results highlighted effective methods and the need for training and reference materials to improve BoNT detection accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Food safety and toxicology
- Analytical chemistry and diagnostics
Background:
- Detecting botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) presents significant technical challenges.
- Inter-laboratory proficiency tests (PTs) are crucial for evaluating diagnostic method performance.
- Existing methods need assessment for clinical, food, and environmental samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To organize and evaluate an international proficiency test for BoNT detection and quantification.
- To assess methods for clinically relevant BoNT serotypes A, B, E, and F.
- To analyze BoNT detection in serum, milk, and soil matrices at low concentrations (0.5 ng/mL).
Main Methods:
- An international proficiency test involving 18 laboratories was conducted.
- Participants utilized diverse detection methods: functional, immunological, and mass spectrometric.
- Key methods included endopeptidase assays coupled to mass spectrometry (Endopep-MS) and ELISA (Endopep-ELISA).
Main Results:
- A wide array of detection methods were implemented by participating laboratories.
- The exercise identified the most effective and complementary BoNT detection methods.
- Variability in quantitative data was observed, underscoring the need for standardization.
Conclusions:
- Combining training on selected methods and distributing toxin reference material can reduce data variability.
- This proficiency test identified widely shared and effective BoNT detection strategies.
- Standardized approaches are essential for reliable BoNT detection across different matrices.
