Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay of Aflatoxins Bi, B2, and Gi in Corn, Cottonseed, Peanuts, Peanut Butter, and Poultry Feed: Collaborative Study
Abstract A direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening method for aflatoxins at 20 ng/g was studied by 12 collaborators. Test samples of peanut butter were extracted by blending with methanol-water-hexane (55 + 45 + 100) and heating the test extracts on a steam bath; test samples of the other commodities were extracted by blending with methanol-water (80 + 20). All test extracts were filtered and the filtrates were diluted with buffer to a final methanol concentration of <30%. Each diluted filtrate was applied to a cup containing a filter with immobilized polyclonal antibodies specific to aflatoxins B1, B2, and G1. Aflatoxin B1-peroxidase conjugate was added, the cup was washed with water, and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and tetramethylbenzidine was added. The test sample was judged to contain >20 ng aflatoxins/g when, after exactly 1 min, no color was observed on the filter; when a blue or gray color developed, the test sample was judged to contain <20 ng aflatoxins/g. All collaborators correctly identified naturally contaminated corn and raw peanut positive test samples. No false positives were found for controls containing <2 ng aflatoxins/g. The correct responses for positive test samples spiked at levels of 10, 20, and >30 ng aflatoxins/g (the ratio of B1, B2, and G1 was 10:1:3) were 52, 86, and 96%, respectively. The method, which is rapid and simple, has been adopted official first action for screening for aflatoxins at >20 ng/g in cottonseed and peanut butter and for aflatoxins at >30 ng/g in corn and raw peanuts. The procedure will require further study for poultry feed. Positive test samples may require reanalysis by an official, quantitative method.