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Zearalenone (ZEN), a potent estrogenic mycotoxin produced primarily byFusariumfungi, poses a significant and insidious risk to global agriculture and food safety. This toxin contaminates a wide array of staple crops, especiallycorn, wheat, barley, and soybeans, as well as their derived products like animal feed, cereals, and beer. Upon ingestion, ZEN mimics the hormone estrogen, leading to severe reproductive disorders, reduced fertility, and developmental issues in livestock (particularly swine and poultry), and raising concerns about its potential impact on human health through the food chain. With regulatory limits becoming increasingly stringent worldwide, accurate and reliable detection of ZEN at trace levels (often in the low parts-per-billion, ppb, range) is non-negotiable for producers, traders, and regulatory bodies.
The greatest challenge in ZEN analysis lies not in the final detection instrument (be it HPLC, LC-MS/MS, or ELISA), but in the step that comes before it:sample cleanup. Crude sample extracts are complex cocktails of oils, pigments, proteins, and other interfering compounds that can foul analytical columns, quench detector signals, and lead to false positives or underestimations. Without effective cleanup, even the most advanced equipment cannot deliver accurate, regulatory-grade results. This is where the selectivity of immunoaffinity technology becomes indispensable.
Zearalenone Immunoaffinity Columnsprovides the solution. These are not generic filters buthighly specific biochemical purification tools. Each column contains monoclonal antibodies with exclusive affinity for Zearalenone and its major metabolites (like α-Zearalanol and β-Zearalanol), covalently immobilized on a refined gel. This design enables a "capture-and-release" mechanism that delivers unmatchedpurity, recovery, and consistencyfor your samples, transforming a challenging analysis into a streamlined, trustworthy process.
The operation leverages the principle ofantibody-antigen specific binding:
Conditioning & Loading:The column is prepared, and the clarified sample extract is passed through.
Specific Capture:As the extract flows through the gel,ZEN molecules are selectively and tightly bound by the immobilized antibodies. Other matrix components pass through unaffected.
Stringent Washing:Water or a special wash buffer removes allnon-specifically bound impurities(fats, pigments, proteins), leaving only the target analyte on the column.
Pure Elution:A small volume of a mild organic solvent (e.g., methanol) breaks the antibody-ZEN bond,eluting highly purified and concentrated ZENin a fraction ideal for direct instrumental analysis.
| Feature | Technical Specification | Benefit to Your Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Specificity | High-affinity monoclonal antibodies with minimal cross-reactivity. | Isolates ZEN from complex matrices (grains, feed, oils, spices) with >99% removal of interferents, ensuring accurate results. |
| High Recovery & Consistency | Consistent recovery rates of85-95%across validated matrices. | Guarantees quantitative accuracy, prevents underestimation, and delivers reproducible data for compliance reporting. |
| Time & Cost Efficiency | Rapid protocol (typically < 20 mins hands-on time); compatible with vacuum manifolds. | Dramatically increases sample throughput and reduces solvent use compared to traditional methods like SPE. |
| Enhanced Instrument Protection | Delivers ultra-clean sample extracts. | Extends the life of your expensive HPLC/LC-MS columns and detectors by preventing contamination and matrix buildup. |
| Regulatory Compliance | Validated for use with official methods (e.g., relevant Chinese GB standards, AOAC guidelines). | Provides the defensible data quality required for meeting international trade and safety standards (EU, US, China). |
Grain & Feed Industry QC:Essential for routine monitoring of incoming raw materials and finished products to ensure safety and compliance with trading contracts.
Food Safety Laboratories:Critical for regulatory testing of cereals, bakery products, beer, and cooking oils to enforce national and international maximum residue limits (MRLs).
Research & Method Development:The gold-standard cleanup tool for developing and validating new analytical methods for mycotoxins.
Export/Import Compliance Testing:Provides the reliable, auditable data trail needed to clear stringent customs and border inspections.
In the high-stakes arena of food and feed safety, the integrity of your data starts with the purity of your sample. The Zearalenone Immunoaffinity Column is not merely a consumable; it is thefoundational step that guarantees the credibility of your entire analytical chain.
Download our application notes and validation certificatesfrom our website to see complete performance data.
Contact our technical support specialistsfor a consultation on optimizing your ZEN testing workflow and achieving uncompromising analytical confidence.