Development and validation of an ultrasensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for aflatoxin M1 in milk

A fast and ultrasensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for aflatoxin M, in milk samples has been developed and validated. The method is an indirect competitive type format involving the immobilization of an aflatoxin M-1-bovine serum albumin conjugate on 384 well black polystyrene microliter plates and the use of a secondary antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase detected with a luminol-based substrate. Aflatoxin M, standard solutions were prepared in milk-based buffer, and milk samples were analyzed without any cleanup procedure. The limit of quantification was 1 ppt, the coefficient of variation was below 9% for both intra- and interassay precision, and the recovery ranged from 96 to 122%. The method is specific, and other aflatoxins do not significantly cross-react with the antibody. Twenty-four milk samples were analyzed, and a good correlation was observed (y = 0.98x + 1.71, r(2) = 0.98, n = 24) when the data were compared with a reference high-performance liquid chromatography method with a fluorescent detector. The developed method is suitable for an accurate, sensitive, and high-throughput screening of aflatoxin M, in milk samples with a reduction of costs and increased detectability, as compared with previously developed immunoassays.