DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID AND SENSITIVE RADIOIMMUNOASSAY FOR MEASUREMENT OF AFLATOXIN B 1 IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Aflatoxin B I (AFB) isa 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 APB 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 a1bwnin is highly specific with a low cross reactivity 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 routine method for screening food products designated for human consumption.