C/N:EE 203    Sensitivity:0.25 ppb    Test Range:0.25~2.0 ppb

1. BACKGROUND
    Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by two types of mold: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus is common and widespread in nature and is most often found when certain grains are grown under stressful conditions such as drought. The mold occurs in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration and invades all types of organic substrates whenever and wherever the conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable conditions include high moisture content and high temperature. While the presence of Aspergillus flavus does not always indicate harmful levels of aflatoxin it does mean that the potential for aflatoxin production is present.

2. PURPOSE
    This handbook establishes procedures for determining aflatoxin in grain and processed grain products. The test is a competitive direct ELISA that provides exact concentrations in parts per billion (ppb). Free toxin in the sample and controls competes with enzyme-labeled toxin (conjugate) for the antibody binding sites. After a wash step, substrate reacts with the bound enzyme conjugate to produce blue color.
% of Cross reactivity: The specificity of the Aflatoxin Total test was established by analyzing the cross-reactivity to corresponding mycotoxins.
Aflatoxin B1.......................................................100 %
Aflatoxin B2........................................ approx.100 %
Aflatoxin G1 ........................................approx.100 %
Aflatoxin G2 .........................................approx. 80 %
T-2 Toxin................................................................0 %
Zearalenon............................................................0 %
Ochratoxin............................................................0 %
Fumonisin.............................................................0 %