Comparison of HPLC and ELISA methods in the detection of fumonisins

Abstract

Imported corn samples (32 samples) were analyzed for fumonisins using two different methods. Each ground corn sample was extracted with 50% acetonitrile/water. Fumoni-sins were analyzed by both high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) derivatization method and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit system (Agri-Screen for fumonisin, Neogen corp., Michigan, U.S.A.). Concentrations of fumonisins in the samples analyzed by HPLC were as follows; more than 5ppm in one sample, between 1 and 5ppm in 7 samples and between 0.05 and 1ppm in 10 samples. On the other hand, 6 samples were positive for fumonisin in comparison with 5ppm fumonisin B₁ standard in the analysis by ELISA test-kit system. The number of fumonisin-contaminated samples detected by using ELISA test-kit system were smaller than that detected by using HPLC but the Agri-Screen ELISA test-kit system is con-venient for quick screening of fumonisins in corn samples.