Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk Powder Using Immunoaffinity Columns for Cleanup: Interlaboratory Study

A liquid chromatographic method for determining low aflatoxin M1 concentrations in milk was evaluated in an International Dairy Federation (IDF) interlaboratory study. The study involved 16 participants from 11 countries. The method, chosen after a comparison of several methods by a preparatory group, uses an immunoaffinity column for cleanup. As the sample passes through the column, antibodies selectively bind with aflatoxin M1 (antigen) present and form an antibody-antigen complex. All other components of the sample matrix are washed off the column with water. Then, aflatoxin M1 is eluted from the column with acetonitrile, which is collected. Final determination is carried out by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Over the tested range (80-600 ng aflatoxin M1/kg milk powder), an RSDR ranging from 11 to 23% was obtained by analyzing 24 samples (blind duplicates), 2 samples of which were blanks.

Aflatoxin, a human carcinogen: determination in foods and biological samples by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography

We have used monoclonal antibody technology to produce antibodies that recognize aflatoxins in order to develop noninvasive methods in conjunction with other chemical analytical techniques to monitor human exposure to environmental carcinogens. These methods require the ability to quantitate aflatoxins and their metabolites, including DNA and protein adducts, in readily accessible compartments such as serum and urine. The techniques permit efficient analysis of many samples in a relatively short time. Also, these monoclonal antibody affinity columns have been extremely useful for rapid isolation of aflatoxins from food and grain samples, as well as aflatoxin M1 from milk. Monoclonal antibody affinity methods are nondestructive to the aflatoxin molecule, so the sample aliquot can be used for confirmation. The use of monoclonal antibody preparative affinity columns represents a major, substantive breakthrough for analytical chemists and will be a generally applicable technology for isolation of many different substances.