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

The format of an existing flow-through enzyme immunoassay has been optimised for the detection of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) 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 FB1 and a FB1 + FB2 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.