Quantitative Aflatoxin M1 Detection ELISA Kit
　

Aflatoxins are toxin metabolites produced by a variety of molds such as Aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus. They are carcinogenic and can be present in grains, nuts, cottonseed and other commodities associated with human food or animal feeds. Crops may be contaminated by one or more of the four sub-types of aflatoxin: B1, B2, G1 and G2. Aflatoxin B1 is the most toxic and frequently detected form. Aflatoxins have been implicated in human health disorders including hepatocellular carcinoma, aflatoxicosis, Reye''s syndrome and chronic hepatitis. Animals are exposed to aflatoxins by consumption of feeds that are contaminated by aflatoxin-producing fungal strains. When cows are fed contaminated feed, aflatoxn B1 is converted to aflatoxin M1, which is subsequently secreted in the milk of lactating cows. Aflatoxin M1 is quite stable towards normal milk processing methods such as pasteurization, and if present in raw milk, it may persist into final products for human consumption. Most controlling government agencies worldwide have regulations regarding the amount of aflatoxins allowed in human and animal foodstuffs. Limits for the presence of aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products have also been declared. In the Europiean Union (EU), this limit has been set at 0.05 mg/L or 50 parts per trillion (50 ppt).

Recovery and Reproducibility

　

Recovery in cheese: 100 pg of aflatoxin M1 was spiked into 1 gm of finely grated parmesan cheese and allowed to remain in contact for one hour at ambient temperature. Applying the extraction procedure described above, the recovery of aflatoxin M1 was 60.5% with a CV of 5.5% for 8 separate spiking/extractions.