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QUALITY MANAGEMENT
ly will not completely eliminate them hence why they
are used in conjunction with these columns. This also
adds an additional cost to the analysis.
Another option which can eliminate matrix effects,
is to put the sample through an immunoaffinity
column. Considered the standard method of choice
for the sample preparation of regulatory mycotoxins it
therefore, makes sense to target monitoring on those
mycotoxins which are known to be associated with
specific cereal products. However, with the strong
possibility of multiple occurrence there is a growing
requirement for columns which can offer multi-mycotoxin
analysis in conjunction with LC-MS/MS using a
single extraction method. It also makes sense to determine
more than one mycotoxin in an analytical run
to reduce workflow, time of analysis and overall costs.
However, the analytes differ in their physicochemical
properties and this brings its own challenges when
considering extraction and clean-up techniques and
detection methods that will give efficient recoveries
and accurate quantitation for all the analytes.
Many multi-mycotoxin columns are now available
which have been manufactured using monoclonal antibody
technology which is bound to a solid support.
This enables the isolation and concentration of the
multiple target mycotoxins and makes the columns
highly specific and offers improved sensitivity. If used
in tandem a range of toxins can be isolated in a single
run greatly increasing efficiency. In all cases, the toxins
are extracted by blending the food or feed sample
with a solvent, the extract is then filtered, diluted and
a small volume passed through the immunoaffinity
column. If the target mycotoxins are present in the
test sample, it is selectively bound to the antibody in
the column; the toxins are then released from the column
using a solvent. The eluate is then injected onto
the LC-MS/MS system ready for quantification.
The use of immunoaffinity column stops interferences
which can lead to both false positives and
wrong decisions about rejecting commodities, as well
as ion suppression which can lead to under-estimation
of true concentrations and the risks of accepting
a batch of material that should be rejected. Both of
which are unnecessary risks to the food industry and
to the food control laboratories.
Continued vigilance is required to monitor a diversity
of mycotoxins in cereals and cereal products.
Although application of good agricultural practice can
reduce the risks of fungal infection of cereals and can
minimise mycotoxin levels, the co-occurrence of mycotoxins
in cereals is an inevitable fact of life. Fortunately
analysing multiple mycotoxins in cereals, whilst
still challenging is greatly helped by the availability of
excellent clean-up columns like 11+ Myco MS-PREP®
manufactured by R-Biopharm Rhône, which target the
range of regulated mycotoxins.
More information: https://r-b.io/p128
Fig.: Test kit 11+ Myco MS-PREP® (Art. No. RBRP128)