It has a limit of detection (LOD) of less than 1 part per billion (ppb) with a detection range of 1 – 150 ppb. The test works in a single dilution step with uncomplicated solvent extractions and can be completed within 30 minutes. The kit design lends itself to versatility ranging from manual testing of a few samples to a high throughput automated format suitable for testing hundreds of samples. OTA is a toxic secondary metabolite of certain Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi that infect crops under a concatenation of conditions like moisture and high temperature during storage. The major human (and animal) bioburden comes from the ingestion of contaminated cereal grains. While OTA ingestion has not been associated with acute illness in man, long-term consumption has been correlated with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy, and in animal studies OTA has been shown to be a potent renal toxin and potentially carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunosuppressive. It is also associated with porcine and poultry diseases resulting from consumption of feed contaminated with OTA.
Helica Biosystems, Inc. is engaged in the development and manufacturing of high quality test kits for the detection of mycotoxins such as OTA, aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisin in a variety of commodities. It also supplies test kits for life science research only for aflatoxin detection in urine and milk as well as ochratoxin A detection in blood and milk. The company’s unique specialty is the development of “Low Matrix” test kits that can be used for difficult-to-test matrices such as wine, milk, coffee, beer, silage, spices, oilseeds and nuts.
More information is available at www.helica.com