Method validation in the determination of aflatoxins in noodle samples using the QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) and high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC–FLD)

A new method for the determination and analysis of aflatoxins in noodles, based on the use of the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) procedure, enhanced with a high performance liquid chromatography–coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC–FLD) has been developed. The method excludes the use of dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) extraction cleanup step to reduce time and cost of analysis. Separation of the four(4) aflatoxins with higher selectivity and sensitivity, and within reasonable limits of retention time, was performed by using an isocratic mobile phase of water/methanol/acetonitrile (65/25/10) at a column temperature of 30 °C. Optimization of sample preparation and analytical conditions gave recoveries in the range of 75%–107% at spike levels of 5.0–20.0 μg/kg, and relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 13% in all the cases. The repeatability and reproducibility results were in range of 2.0–12.3% and 3.4–16.5% respectively. Additionally, the limits of detection (LOD) (0.01–1.00 μg/kg) and the limits of quantification (LOQ) (0.05–1.80 μg/kg) of these aflatoxins are well within the legal limits set by the European Union (EU).