Critical comparison of direct analysis in real time orbitrap mass spectrometry (DART-Orbitrap MS) towards liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for mycotoxin detection in cereal matrices

Foodstuffs contaminated by mycotoxins have been reported around the globe resulting in significant financial losses and health-threating cases due to dietary exposure. Commonly, two analytical approaches are used in mycotoxin analysis, namely screening bioanalytical methods such as immunoassays and confirmatory chro-matographic analysis which are related to certain merits and challenges. In this study, to provide an alternative combining rapidness and unequivocal analyte identification, a direct analysis in real time ion source coupled to orbitrap mass spectrometry (DART-Orbitrap MS) method was developed and validated for the detection of 19 mycotoxins in cereal flour matrices. Excellent detectability expressed as the lowest calibration level (LCL) ranging between 25 mu g kg-1 and 250 mu g kg-1 depending on the analyte was achieved as well as satisfactory precision and trueness. To identify advantages and drawbacks of the in-house DART-Orbitrap MS method against the golden standard methods, a critical comparison towards liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high and low resolution MS was performed. DART-Orbitrap MS high throughput and rapidity was revealed while LC-MS proved its superior detectability, which is of indispensable importance for mycotoxin regulatory control. In conclusion, the developed DART-Orbitrap MS method can be applied to intensify and accelerate the monitoring of specific mycotoxins in cereal matrices.

Automated summary

A new method for mycotoxin analysis, DART-Orbitrap MS, was developed and validated in this study, showing rapid, unequivocal, and precise characteristics for monitoring mycotoxins in cereal matrices. A critical comparison with traditional LC-MS methods revealed that DART-Orbitrap MS has advantages in high throughput and rapidity, but falls slightly short in detectability compared to LC-MS.