Automated aflatoxin analysis of foods and animal feeds using immunoaffinity column clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatographic determination

A commercially available system is described for the fully automated clean-up and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of aflatoxins in foods and animal feeds. The system marketed primarily for handling solid-phase extraction columns has modified software to facilitate use with immunoaffinity columns. Sample extract clean-up followed by injection onto an HPLC column with post-column iodination and fluorescence detection is carried out completely unattended. A coefficient of variation of 5.1% for aflatoxin B1 analysis was obtained, and the accuracy of the system was demonstrated by the analysis of peanut butter certified reference material.