A flow-through enzyme immunoassay for the screening of fumonisins in maize

The format of an existing flow-through enzyme immunoassay has been optimised for the detection of fumonisin B 1 (FB 1) and B 2 (FB 2) in maize. The visual detection limit i.e. the smallest mycotoxin concentration resulting in no colour development, is 1000 μg/kg. Assay validation was performed using samples spiked with respectively only FB 1 and a FB 1 + FB 2 mixture (ratio 1:1). Results showed that within-day and between-day coefficients of variation ranged from respectively 0.4–10.2% and 1.1–9.0%. Naturally contaminated samples were screened with the developed flow-through method and results were compared with fumonisin contamination values obtained by a validated HPLC method. The assay was demonstrated to be accurate and reliable giving no false compliant and only a low percentage of false non-compliant results. The described method offers a simple, rapid and cost-effective screening tool, thus contributing to a better consumers’ health protection.