Analytical techniques for deoxynivalenol detection and quantification in wheat destined for the manufacture of commercial products

ASTORECA A.; CARDOS M.; ALCONADA T.; FIGOLI C.; BOSCH A.; ORTEGA L.; CAVAGLIERI L.R

World Mycotoxin Journal

Wageningen Academic Publishers

Año: 2016

1875-0710

The significant concern regarding toxicity from the presence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat affects both, economy and public health and leads to the need to find an appropriate detection method for determining the degree of DON contamination in terms of the equipment available and the speed required for obtaining the incidence. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the relative usefulness of two alternative analytical techniques for DON quantification as a reference method to implement for the screening of wheat samples to be used in the food industry. Samples of wheat and its by-products were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet detector as a reference method and the results compared with the use of a rapid lateral-flow immunochromatographic device (Reveal Q+) along with the technique of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effectiveness of both the Reveal Q+ and the FTIR dried-film method in detecting DON was confirmed in wheat-flour samples; which latter technique, from the high correlation obtained with the HPLC analysis, proved to be a suitable alternative approach for determining DON concentrations in naturally infected wheat samples. This study focused on a comparison of the different techniques available in the food industry for determining DON in wheat and wheat by-products in order to assist producers in choosing the most appropriate methodology with respect to the given objective of the analysis and the available equipment.