Interlaboratory collaboration to determine the performance of the Randox food diagnostics biochip array technology for the simultaneous quantitative detection of seven mycotoxins in feed

An inter-laboratory collaborative study was performed to evaluate the performance of the Biochip Array Technology (BAT) Myco 7 method. The Myco 7 Array is a method which simultaneously and quantitatively detects 20 mycotoxins including aflatoxins B 1 , B 2 , G 1 and G 2 , ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisin B 1 , B 2 and B 3 and T-2 and HT-2 toxin. The BAT Myco 7 method was collaboratively evaluated by nine government and private Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) laboratories. Samples were analysed in a proficiency testing round format. Seventeen blind samples were analysed on the same equipment using Myco 7 kits. 99% of the results fell within an acceptable Z-score range of -2|<Z<|+2. Deoxynivalenol had a 100% Z-score pass rate, while a 99% pass was recorded for aflatoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A and fumonisins. T-2 toxin had a 97% Z-score pass rate. HorRat analysis for reproducibility used a range of 0.3<|HorRat|≤2. The target was met for deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxin, and aflatoxins B 1 , B 2 , G 1 and G 2 assays. Fumonisins and ochratoxin A assays had a 93% and 94% pass, respectively. The reproducibility co-efficiency of variation was between 16 and 20% meeting set criterion of <40% and is, therefore, fit-for-purpose for use in the AAFCO control programs for mycotoxins.