General and advanced methods for the detection and measurement of aflatoxins and aflatoxin metabolites: a review

Abstract

Aflatoxins are fungal toxins produced by molds in contaminated foods and feeding derivatives. Analytical methods for detection and quantification of aflatoxins must be specific, sensitive, reliable, and simple to carry out. Various chromatographic, immunochemical, and spectroscopic methods are commonly used to quantify aflatoxins. Developing countries with high incidence of aflatoxin exposure have limited access to these types of analytical methods. This review systematically evaluated and underlined the advantages and limitations of all the existing analytical methods for detection of aflatoxins. In addition, more streamlined, user-friendly and in some instances, nondestructive methods are also discussed.

Keywords:

• Aflatoxins
• detection methods
• chromatography
• ELISA
• fluorescence

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to core donors which provide unrestricted support to icddr,b for its operations and research. Current donors providing unrestricted support include: Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the Department for International Development, UK (DFID). We gratefully acknowledge these donors for their support and commitment to icddr,b's research efforts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.