They can enter the food or feed chain through contaminated crops, in particular cereals, but also corn, wheat and poultry meat and kidneys.

Contamination may also occur post-harvest during storage, transport, and processing stages of the food or feed supply chain.

Factors of both a scientific and socio-economic nature largely influence the establishment of mycotoxin limits and regulations, therefore various mycotoxin limits and regulations in feed have been set by multiple food agencies worldwide. For example the EU 2002-32 Directive sets maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for substances that are present in, or on, poultry feed that have the potential to pose danger to animal or human health, to the environment, or could have an undesirable affect to poultry production.

How are mycotoxins detected?

Currently chromatographic, spectrometric and immunoassay based techniques are used for the detection of these toxins.

However, Biochip Array Technology (BAT), from Randox Food, enables simultaneous quantitative determination of multiple analytes from a single sample reducing the time it takes to result.

This increases the output of test results. Furthermore, this methodology is flexible, with MycoFlex the user can customise the mycotoxins to be screened according to the most prevalent in a particular geographical region.

MycoFlex BAT is a labour saving, multi-analytical solution for the accurate quantifiable screening of the world’s most prevalent mycotoxins to comply with global regulations.

Randox Food screen for Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin G1, Fumonisins, Ochratoxin A, Deoxynivalenol, Paxilline, Diacetoxyscirpenol, T-2 toxin, Ergot alkaloids, Zearalenone on Myco 7, Myco 10 and customisable MycoFlex.

Combining confidence with convenience Randox Food is breaking the mould of laborious mycotoxin test methods with the aim to improve food security.

Randox Food Diagnostics: www.randoxfooddiagnostics.com