Charm Sciences’ aflatoxin in corn test backed

Charm Sciences’ aflatoxin test has been backed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

Approval is for official testing of aflatoxin in the US national grain inspection system. The Certificate of Conformance means the test kit can detect 5 to 300 ppb aflatoxin in corn.

Charm Sciences’ ROSA WET-S3 Aflatoxin Quantitative Test (AFQ-WETS3) is an immunoreceptor assay using ROSA (Rapid One-Step Assay) lateral flow technology and Water Extraction Technology (WET) to remove the need for organic solvents (methanol/ethanol) in the extraction of aflatoxin from corn.

It delivers detection for aflatoxin in a single strip and results in three minutes on the ROSA-M Reader or Charm EZ-M system.

The WET method uses an extraction powder added to the sample followed by water (e.g., bottled water) to extract aflatoxin.

Mark Tess, mycotoxin product manager, said the speed was important when receiving corn at a facility.

“The ROSA AFQ-WETS3 Quantitative Test has been manufactured to reduce the assay time and meet the GIPSA specifications required to quantitate aflatoxin in the field.”

The test joins other GIPSA approved tests for aflatoxin, DON, fumonisin, ochratoxin and zearalenone.