Application and validation of the clean-up tandem assay column for the screening of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder

Marieke Lobeau (1) , Sarah de Saeger (1) , Liberty Sibanda (2) , Ildiko Barna-Vetró (3) , Carlos van Peteghem (1)

1 UGENT - Universiteit Gent = Ghent University
2 TOXI-TEST NV
3 Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Diagnostic Laboratory

A rapid antibody-based assay for the detection of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder is described, involving sequential clean-up and visual detection of the toxin (‘clean-up tandem assay column'). The test was developed to have a cut-off level of 2 µg kg-1 and was shown to have false positive and false negative rates of 10 % and 2 % respectively. The analysis of six samples can be carried out in the field in approximately 30 min by untrained workers. Ten retail cocoa powders were all found not to contain detectable ochratoxin A (< 2 µg kg-1) by the proposed rapid screening. These samples were also found to be negative (< 2 µg kg-1) when analysed using an LC-MS/MS method.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Marieke Lobeau, Sarah de Saeger, Liberty Sibanda, Ildiko Barna-Vetró, Carlos van Peteghem. Application and validation of the clean-up tandem assay column for the screening of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2007, 24 (04), pp.398-405. ⟨10.1080/02652030601053162⟩. ⟨hal-00577283⟩