Validation Study of a Rapid ELISA for Detection of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat, Barley, Malted Barley, Corn, Oats, and Rice

Neogen Corp. developed the Veratox DON test kit for the detection of deoxynivalenol (DON). The purpose of this study was to validate the method under the requirements of the AOAC Research Institute Performance Tested Methods (PTM) program. There are two AOAC Official Methods for DON detection: 986.17 and 986.18, the first of which is a TLC method and the second a GC method. A rapid method (PTM 000701) has also been performance tested by the AOAC Research Institute. One of the most widely used reference methods; however, is a GC method with electron capture detection that is referred to as the reference method in this paper. Although considered the reference method, the GC procedure is complicated and requires the investment of both expensive equipment and a highly skilled technician. A rapid (e.g., ELISA) test kit needs to be validated by the AOAC Research Institute. The Veratox 2/3 method is highly reproducible with average CV values 97% correlation to reference methods.