Symmetric M1 is a lateral flow test available in 48 and 96 test sticks with a procedure time of 10 minutes.
It has a limit of detection (LOD) of 2 parts per trillion (ppt) Aflatoxin M1 and range of quantification of 8-150 ppt.
For different milk types
ProGnosis Biotech said the automated process involves five minutes incubation time and five minutes with the stick dipped in the milk.
“The test is extremely accurate, almost ELISA-like, with coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 8% and results can be read up to 10 minutes after the experiment is finished.
“It is the first stick to test different types of milk; cow, goat and sheep.
“The EU is the area with the lowest limit of Aflatoxin M1 while the rest of the world regulates at 500ppt. It is a global issue but the different limits in different parts of the world demonstrate a difference in perception, the EU wants to be on the safe side. Most non-EU countries follow the US example.
“The problem depends on the weather, storage conditions and practices on the field. Transportation of corn, wheat and cereals can provide favourable conditions for toxins to grow.”
Established regulatory limits
Aflatoxins ingested by animals can be transformed into Aflatoxin M1 and excreted in milk from the cow.
Aflatoxin M1 in milk results primarily from conversion of Aflatoxin B1 metabolized by enzymes found in the liver.
It has an established EU limit of 0.05 μg/kg (50 ppt) or 0.5 μg/kg (500 ppt) in the US.
“Rapid tests in general are used on raw materials such as milk received in trucks. It is for quick testing upon reception and mainly for the industry,” said ProGnosis Biotech.
“If you only have two trucks you are wasting money by testing with ELISA. ELISA is for the more experienced user.
“Rapid tests are always basic screening tests and most companies have adopted them. Industry often has internal limits and screens in real time.
“If contamination concentration is above that internal limit they put the sample aside to test with ELISA and if they have a small number of samples to confirm, the most common practice is to outsource to external laboratories testing with ELISA, HPLC or LC-MS/MS.”