New test for detecting mycotoxins in edible oil

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Interesting information about this new method for detecting mycotoxins.

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Researchers Develop GPC-LC-MS/MS Method to Screen for 31 Mycotoxins in Edible

Oil

Comprehensive Mycotoxin Screen Enables Compliance with New Regulations at Lower

Cost

Last update: 10:26 a.m. EST Feb. 25, 2009

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb 25, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Pickering Laboratories today announced that researchers at the Munich Technical

University and Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority have developed an

innovative, comprehensive mycotoxin screening method based on the use of

LCTech's GPC ULTRA gel permeation chromatography instrument. Distributed by

Pickering Laboratories in North America for sample cleanup prior to separation

and detection, the new GPC instrument separates low weight mycotoxins from high

molecular weight food constituents prior to high performance liquid

chromatography (HPLC) separation and mass spectroscopy (MS) detection. The new

method substantially lowers the cost of performing a comprehensive mycotoxin

screen by detecting 31 mycotoxins in a single analysis run.

A proposed European Community regulation sets a maximum level of 1000ug/kg for

fumonisins (FB1/FB2) in corn oil, making it more important than ever to develop

a comprehensive mycotoxin screen. Development of a comprehensive screen is a

demanding challenge because of the wide range of chemical and physical

properties of the individual mycotoxins and the large number of naturally

occurring food constituents that may be extracted along with the mycotoxins and

interfere with separation and detection.

Traditional methods for detecting and quantifying low levels of mycotoxins are

specific to individual mycotoxins, so it is time-consuming, difficult and

expensive to carry out a comprehensive screen. Earlier GPC-based methods have

been based on commonly-used polystyrene polymer beads, which are suitable for

zeralenone (ZEA), ochratoxin A (OTA), aflatoxins and trichothecenes. However,

this material does not provide sufficient selectivity to separate fumonisins

(FB1/FB2) from the oil fraction.

C. Gottshalk and J. Bauer of Munich Technical University, J. Barthel and G.

Engelhardt of the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority and U. Aulwurm of

LCTech worked together to develop a method to detect 31 different mycotoxins,

including ZEA, fumonisins, trichothecenes (types A, B and D), aflatoxins,

ochratoxin A and other mycotoxins, from edible oils. The new method relies on

the fact that mycotoxins fall into the 200 to 600 molecular weight range and

thus can be separated using GPC from food constituents that have much higher

molecular weights.

To develop this comprehensive screen, researchers used the LCTech's GPC ULTRA

automated sample cleanup and concentration instrument, which is distributed by

Pickering Laboratories in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. They tried a

range of different columns and found that the LCTech's MykoClean column

successfully separated all 31 analytes from the oil. The researchers studied

influencing factors such as the eluent composition, pH, temperature and the

column loading capacity. The recoveries obtained with the combined GPC-LC-MS/MS

method range between 74% and 104%. The limits of quantification achieved with

the new method comply with the maximum levels for analytes regulated by EC

1881/2006 regulations from December 19, 2006.

For additional detail, please see the poster at

http://www.pickeringlabs.com/pdf/080425-ua-Poster_30_Mykotoxin_Workshop1.pdf

About the GPC ULTRA

The GPC ULTRA is designed for removing fats, proteins, and other large

bio-molecules from samples to prevent interference in the analysis of

mycotoxins, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls

(PCBs), antibiotics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other

semi-volatile compounds. The GPC ULTRA features a unique rotary evaporation

chamber that combines a silicon oil bath and precise heat transfer with a

laser- directed volume control for precision evaporation of solvents. It also

includes an auto sampler, precision pumps and valve injection system, a sample

loop and a matched GPC column. Vario PC software controls and monitors the

instrument's operation. (For additional detail, see

http://www.pickeringlabs.com/catalog/sample_preparation_GPC_ULTRA.htm)

About LCTech

LCTech GmbH, based in the Bavarian town of Dorfen, develops and distributes

innovative products and methods for the preparation and analysis of food, feed

and environmental samples. The range of products covers GPC systems as well as

solutions for the analysis of mycotoxins. Worldwide, LCTech is represented by a

well-developed distributor network

Globally, public and private laboratories in the food and feed industries and

in pharmacy and research rely on the modern and efficient products and

individual service guaranteed by LCTech. For further information, please visit

www.LCTech.de

About Pickering Laboratories

Pickering Laboratories is a pioneer in biochemical reagents and

instrumentation. For 25 years, Pickering has developed applications required by

government and private laboratories. Pickering leadership in both the design

and manufacture of biochemical reagents and instrumentation assures the quality

of both. With the addition of LCTech mycotoxin products to the company's

product line, Pickering now enables customers to analyze and process mycotoxins

with more tools from a known source of quality products and excellent service.

Pickering's team of dedicated research and application chemists, engineers,

operational specialists, and experienced managers produce and sell direct and

through 87 distributors in 150 countries in North and South America, Europe,

the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Headquarters are in Mountain

View, California. For additional information, please visit

www.pickeringlabs.com

Note to Editors:

For a poster describing the research above, please see

http://www.pickeringlabs.com/pdf/080425-ua-Poster_30_Mykotoxin_Workshop1.pdf

Graphics and images from the poster are available upon request. Please contact

Marchant at 919-451-0776 or linda.marchant@...

SOURCE: Pickering Laboratories

Pickering Laboratories, Inc.

Mike Gottschalk, 800-654-3330 or 650-694-6700

mgottschalk@...

or

Cayenne Communication

Marchant, 919-451-0776

linda.marchant@...