Detection of aflatoxins in tea samples based on a class-specific monoclonal antibody

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a monoclonal antibody was established to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in tea. The antibody was prepared from a hybridoma derived by fusing Sp2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells and immunised spleen B cells. The effects from pH, ionic strength, and organic solvents on immunoassay were optimised and the 50% inhibition (IC50) value was 0.057 +/- 0.007ng mL1. Spiked black and green tea samples at 10, 20 and 50ng g1 levels of AFB1 were detected with this proposed ELISA. The recoveries for black tea samples ranged from 68.5% to 117.7% and 73.5 to 114.3% for green tea samples. This immunoassay showed no cross-reactions with other mycotoxin family but good recognition with related aflatoxins. These results indicate that the ELISA assay could be used as a screening method for aflatoxin detection in tea samples.