Inmunoaffinity columns offer unmatched sensitivity and versatility
Published:September 15, 2011
By:Diego Montemayor, DVM (Vicam)
Long recognized as the cleanup method of choice for traditional instrumental methods of mycotoxin analysis, immunoaffinity column chromatography has continued to evolve into an increasingly powerful and versatile tool for a wide range of rapid quantitative applications.
Optimized Instrumental Analysis
In response to emerging mycotoxicological concerns and regulatory challenges, VICAM continues to broaden and deepen its line of immunoaffinity column kits. In addition to columns for citrinin, deoxynivalenol (DON), and other species of growing regulatory interest, VICAM's Mycotoxin Test System portfolio now features a wide variety of immunoassays specifically designed to help large government, research, and commercial labs met the growing demand for exacting analytic procedures and timely and accurate mycotoxicological data. From wide-bore columns for high-throughput automated applications to combination columns for simultaneous analysis of co-occurring mycotoxins, these high-efficiency solutions optimize the performance of HPLC and advanced multi-methods while minimizing turnaround times and the repurchase of laboratory consumables.
Beyond Laboratory Walls: Cost-Efficient Risk Protection for the Food and Feed Industry
Ongoing progress in adapting immunoaffinity technology to affordable, user-friendly formats has extended the advantages of this ultra-sensitive and specific detection method to onsite mycotoxin testing programs across agricultural market sectors and growing regions around the world. VICAM's line of rapid mycotoxin tests for agribusiness and other non-technical users includes both qualitative and quantitative applications that require no special training or expensive analytic equipment. While VICAM's lateral strip immunoassays provide reliable low-cost mycotoxin screening at USDA/GIPSA thresholds, immunoaffinity column kits add an extra measure of quality assurance to commercial mycotoxin control programs. Their wider dynamic range enables non-technical users to verify positive screening results with precise quantitative data. Simplified sample cleanup and the use handheld fluorometer to calculate mycotoxin concentrations minimize the risk of procedural errors, Cost-effective and environmentally friendly, our fluorometric methods use nontoxic reagents and calibration standards, eliminating the health and safety risks of hazardous waste disposal.
As an alternative screening incoming shipments with ELISA methods, immunoaffinity columns offer a significant edge in risk reduction. Because mycotoxins tend occur in scattered areas of bulk lots, the smaller samples used for batch testing on ELISA plates may result in overestimates and underestimates of contamination levels. In contrast, IA analysis of larger individual samples provides a more representative picture of the lot. In addition to lowering the limits of detection, the cleaner, more concentrated extracts derived with immunoaffinity column cleanup reduces the risk of false positives and negatives from matrix interferences. These superior performance characteristics empower growers, storage facility operators, manufacturers, and traders to quickly and accurately identify contaminated materials and classify bulk lots for appropriate uses. For stakeholders at every stage of the production chain, immunoaffinity analysis offers more possibilities for protecting public health, the global economy, and their own profitability and business reputations from the devastating effects of unchecked mycotoxin contamination.
Dear Mr.Otieo Okumo, I think your question should be posted in another forum, anyway I can just reply that on the market there are many ELISA test kits for DON. All of them are competitive immunoassay, in which an Enzyme labelled DON (tracer) compete with DON for the antibody binding sites. Generally there is only one incubation (in which an amount of tracer binds to antibodies on the microwells) followed by a washing step and then the development phase, when a colour is soon visible. By a photometric microplate reader the analyst can measure the absorbance of calibration wells and sample wells. A few companies are also providing kits enough precise and reproducible that calibration well are not necessary, the calibration data of the lot are provided together with the kit. This kind of high precise ELISA kit is particularly convenient when the laboratory has to test 1 to 5 samples per run. The sample preparation procedure is a simple methanol: water or water extraction, of course to be done of grinded grains. The liquid extract has to be filtered or centrifuged. One relevant issue in DON testing is that ELISA results show higher concentrations than HPLC. The reason is that anti-DON antibodies recognize acetylated and glycosilated form of DON, parent compounds that are generally not measured by HPLC. If you are interested in more informations please contact me: paleologo@tecnalab.com . We do provide kits but also training about sampling and correct use of screeining methods.
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