FEATURE
Randox Food Diagnostics Offers Innovative Multiplex Technology for Mycotoxin Screening within Feed and Cereal Samples
M
ycotoxins are poisonous chemical compounds produced by certain fungi. There are many such compounds, but only a few of them are regularly found in food, farmed crops and end product animal feeds. Since they are produced by fungi, mycotoxins are associated with diseased or mouldy crops. Those that do occur in food may have an impact on livestock or human health and have been associated with conditions such as cancers, asthma, respiratory infections and chronic fatigue. The main cause of mycotoxins within stored grains are when the grain is damp, damaged or cracked and kept in insufficient storage conditions. The formation of mycotoxins is climate-dependent, with temperature and moisture levels directly impacting fungal growth. Evidence has shown that climate change is causing an increase in temperatures and altered rainfall patterns. Additionally, extreme weather incidents have increased. As a consequence of these changes, increased levels of mycotoxins have been observed in a lot of crops globally. Mycotoxins occur and exert their toxic effects in extremely small quantities in foodstuffs. The identification and quantitative assessment, therefore, generally require sophisticated sampling, sample preparation, extraction, and analytical techniques. It is worth noting that
the absence of fungal contamination does not preclude the presence of mycotoxins. The presence of fungi does not necessarily indicate the presence of mycotoxins, however, the fate of the affected commodity batch must be considered, and mycotoxin presence ascertained.
In order to help the industry Randox Food Diagnostics developed the Evidence Investigator analyser. The Investigator uses Biochip Array Technology (BAT), which provides multiple mycotoxin detection (up to 9) from a single sample. Within feed and cereals Randox Food Diagnostics provide testing for different matrices such as: barley, buckwheat, corn, cereal based feed, oat, wheat, rye, soya, sugar beet and rapeseed. Randox Mycotoxin Screening Products Our Myco 9 Array utilises Biochip Array Technology on the Evidence Investigator analyser and can allow the quantitative detection of up to 9 groups of mycotoxins from one single sample including; Aflatoxins G1/G2 & B1/B2, Diacetoxyscirpenol, Fumonisins, Paxilline, Ochratoxin A, Deoxynivalenol (DON), T2 toxin and Zearalenone. Randox Food also offer a range of premium quality ELISA kits which provide a fast reliable method to detect the presence of Aflatoxin B1 and Ergot Alkaloids in multiple sample types. Randox Food Diagnostics is a regular participant in the FAPAS proficiency testing scheme which provides an independent check of a laboratory’s procedures to ensure the delivery of quality results.
For more information on our arrays for mycotoxins please visit our website: https://www.randoxfood.com/matrices/mycotoxins Contact us via email at: info@randoxfooddiagnostics.com
14 | November - December 2020
