Abstract

Several previous interlaboratory studies in the field of mycotoxin analysis have revealed considerable problems, apparent as high between-laboratory standard deviations, or rather non-comparable and non-traceable results. A major reason is lack of proper calibrants for external calibration. Public awareness of substances that mimic or interfere with the activity of natural hormones (endocrine disrupters) has led to increased interest in mycotoxins with estrogenic potential, e.g. zearalenone (ZON). During a large-scale standard measurement and testing (SMT) project of the European Commission (EC) dealing with the preparation and certification of reference materials for determination of the mycotoxin ZON in maize, a ZON calibrant in acetonitrile was prepared and intensively checked for purity, homogeneity, and stability. Preparation of the material, study of its homogeneity and stability, and characterisation of the calibrant on the basis of its preparation, with discussion of the results obtained, are described in this paper. The certified value of 9.95 mug mL(-1) for ZON in acetonitrile and its corresponding expanded uncertainty of +/-0.30 mug mL(-1) were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM)

Keywords

Fusarium Mycotoxins; Stability; Deoxynivalenol; Cereals; calibrant; certified reference material (Crm); expanded uncertainty; mycotoxin; zearalenone

Published in

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
2004, Volume: 378, number: 5, pages: 1182-1189
Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

SLU Authors

• Pettersson, Hans

  • Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Food Science
Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science


Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2300-8

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/3322