Determination of Deoxynivalenol in Wheat, Barley, Corn Meal, and Wheat-Based Products by Simultaneous Multisample Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay Using a Portable Analyzer

With globalization, importing and exporting of agricultural products and foods have expanded, and food safety has become an important issue worldwide. Mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products and foods (processed foods) can occur anywhere, and it is desirable to develop a technology that can detect mycotoxin levels easily and quickly. By using a portable analyzer that can measure multiple samples simultaneously by combining a microfluidic device and a fluorescence polarization measurement system (a portable FP analyzer), we have successfully measured deoxynivalenol (DON), which is a common mycotoxin, easily and quickly by fluorescence polarized immunoassay (FPIA). The recovery rates of DON spiked in wheat, barley, cornmeal, flour, bread, pasta, thick wheat noodles (udon), and thin wheat noodles (somen) were between 86.3 and 113.2%, and the coefficient of variation was less than 8.5%. These FPIA results were in good agreement with results obtained by the official government-recognized method of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for DON analysis. The FP portable analyzer has great potential as an analytical tool that contributes to food safety.

Automated summary

Globalization has led to an expansion in the import and export of agricultural products and foods, making food safety a key concern worldwide. The development of a portable FP analyzer that can quickly and accurately detect common mycotoxins demonstrates great potential in contributing to food safety. The results obtained from the FPIA method using the FP portable analyzer were in good agreement with those from the government-recognized liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for mycotoxin analysis.