Development of a rapid and sensitive radioimmunoassay for measurement of aflatoxin B1 in biological samples

ABSTRACT

Aflatoxin B 1 [AFB] is a well known hepatocarcinogen in several animal species and probably a causative agent in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Humans are exposed to AFB by ingesting contaminated food. Aflatoxin contamination encountered in human foods is usually at low levels which is difficult to measure by chromatographic methods. Therefore in the present study we have developed an immunoassay for AFB detection which is specific, sensitive and reliable. This method is applicable to a variety of biological samples such as food products, serum, milk, urine, etc. The antibody produced against AFB-bovine serum albumin is highly specific with a low cross reactivity technique as a routine method for screening food products designated for human consumption towards structurally-related aflatoxins. Other characteristics of this method including assay validation, reproducibility, recovery and statistical validations are discussed. We suggest the use of this technique as a rouhine method for screening food products designated for human consunption