Mycotoxin Testing and Analysis Services

Comprehensive Mycotoxin Testing and Analysis Services for Food Safety, Feed Quality, and Regulatory Compliance

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that can contaminate a wide range of agricultural commodities, including cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, and animal feed. These compounds—including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, and patulin—pose significant health risks to humans and animals, with documented carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, and oestrogenic effects. The accurate and reliable detection of mycotoxins is therefore not only a legal requirement but a fundamental obligation for producers, processors, and distributors to ensure consumer safety and maintain market access. Our specialised detection platform offers a fully validated suite of analytical methods—including ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and lateral flow immunoassays—delivering unparalleled sensitivity, specificity, and matrix adaptability. Whether the client is a food manufacturer, a feed producer, an export trader, or a regulatory authority, our service provides the precise, regulatory-ready data required to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with national and international mycotoxin legislation.

Scientific and Regulatory Drivers for Mycotoxin Analysis

Clients seeking mycotoxin detection services are motivated by a range of critical compliance, safety, and trade imperatives. In food and feed quality control, the primary need is to verify that raw materials and finished products meet the stringent maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulatory bodies such as the European Commission, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In export and import compliance, accurate mycotoxin data are essential to avoid costly border rejections, product recalls, and damage to brand reputation. In risk assessment and incident investigation, rapid and robust analytical methods are required to trace contamination sources and to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. In research and product development, detailed mycotoxin profiling supports the study of fungal ecology, the evaluation of novel detoxification technologies, and the development of resistant crop varieties. In regulatory submissions, validated analytical data are a prerequisite for the approval of new food additives, processing aids, and mycotoxin-reducing solutions. Our service is architected to address these diverse needs with a flexible, ISO 17025‑accredited analytical framework that adapts to the specific matrix (cereals, nuts, spices, dried fruits, baby food, feed, and biological fluids) and the client’s regulatory or research context.

Integrated Analytical Pipeline for High-Fidelity Mycotoxin Profiling

Our analytical platform is organised into three interconnected modules that collectively ensure reliable and reproducible mycotoxin quantification across a wide range of matrices. The Sample Preparation Module employs optimised extraction and cleanup protocols tailored to the specific matrix and mycotoxin panel, including QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) methodology, immunoaffinity columns (IAC), and solid-phase extraction (SPE). We incorporate isotopically labelled internal standards (e.g., ¹³C-labelled aflatoxins, DON, and zearalenone) to correct for extraction losses and matrix effects, achieving recoveries of 90–105% with relative standard deviations (RSD) < 3%. The Chromatographic and Detection Module offers a choice of primary analytical platforms: UHPLC-MS/MS with a C18 reversed-phase column (1.7 µm), employing a gradient mobile phase of water/methanol with ammonium acetate, achieving baseline separation of all regulated mycotoxins (including aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, fumonisins B1, B2, B3, DON, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, zearalenone, T-2 and HT-2 toxins) within a run time of 12 minutes. Detection is performed by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in positive and negative electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), providing LOQs as low as 0.1 µg/kg for aflatoxins in solid matrices and 0.01 µg/L in liquid matrices, with inter-day precision < 4% RSD and accuracy of 95–105%. For confirmatory analysis and identification of unknown mycotoxin derivatives, we deploy high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on a Q-TOF or Orbitrap instrument, providing mass accuracy < 2 ppm and full-scan and data-dependent MS/MS capabilities. The Data Validation Module includes system suitability tests (retention time, peak symmetry, signal-to-noise ratio), matrix-matched calibration to eliminate ion suppression, and regular participation in international proficiency testing schemes (e.g., FAPAS, BIPEA) to ensure ongoing accuracy. All methods are validated according to Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 and AOAC official methods, and we provide full validation dossiers including specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, recovery, matrix effect, and measurement uncertainty.

Unmatched Sensitivity, Selectivity, and Matrix Versatility

Our platform routinely delivers performance that surpasses regulatory requirements and typical industry capabilities. For aflatoxin M1 in milk, our method achieves LODs of 0.002 µg/L, well below the EU MRL of 0.05 µg/L. For fumonisins in maize, we achieve LODs of 5 µg/kg, enabling the detection of contamination at levels far below the regulatory limit. Our UHPLC-MS/MS method provides a dynamic linear range spanning four orders of magnitude, allowing the simultaneous quantification of mycotoxins at trace and high concentrations in a single run. The MRM transitions are highly specific, with no detectable interference from isobaric matrix components. For complex matrices such as spices, herbal teas, and infant formula, our optimised cleanup protocols effectively remove co-extracted pigments, lipids, and proteins, resulting in signal-to-noise ratios > 500:1 at the LOQ. We also offer multi-mycotoxin screening for over 50 fungal metabolites (including emerging mycotoxins such as enniatins, beauvericin, and alternariol) in a single injection, providing a comprehensive picture of fungal contamination. Our automated sample handling and high-throughput capability allow processing of up to 200 samples per day, making our service ideal for large-scale surveillance programmes and routine quality control. This depth and breadth of analysis ensure that our clients receive not only compliance data but also a comprehensive understanding of their mycotoxin risk profile.

Distinctive Advantages of Our Mycotoxin Detection Service

Our service offers several unique benefits that directly address client challenges. First, we provide customised method selection and development—clients can choose between our standard UHPLC-MS/MS multi-mycotoxin panel, an ultra-sensitive HRMS method for regulatory confirmatory analysis, or a cost-effective ELISA-based screening for rapid in-process checks. Second, we maintain a comprehensive in-house library of certified reference materials and stable isotope-labelled internal standards for all regulated mycotoxins, ensuring accurate quantification and reducing the burden on clients to source these expensive reagents. Third, we offer a rapid emergency response service with a turnaround time of 2–4 hours for urgent contamination incidents, using our validated lateral flow immunoassay or ELISA screening platforms, backed by confirmatory LC-MS/MS analysis. Fourth, our stability studies evaluate the degradation of mycotoxins under various storage and processing conditions (temperature, pH, light, thermal treatment), providing evidence-based recommendations for risk mitigation. Fifth, we provide comprehensive data interpretation and statistical analysis, including comparison with regulatory limits, trend analysis for time-series data, and multivariate visualisation (PCA, heatmaps) to identify contamination patterns and sources. Sixth, all our methods are accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 and comply with GLP guidelines, and we participate in international proficiency testing schemes (e.g., FAPAS, BIPEA, and USDA-GIPSA) to continuously verify our accuracy. Our team of mycotoxin specialists and analytical chemists provides consultative support, assisting clients in experimental design, data interpretation, and troubleshooting.

Advanced Data Integration, Predictive Modeling, and Reporting

We understand that analytical data must inform risk management decisions. Our final reports are structured to deliver three levels of information: (i) a certificate of analysis (CoA) presenting the mycotoxin concentration (with measurement uncertainty) and a clear pass/fail judgement against the client's specified regulatory limit or acceptance criteria; (ii) a detailed analytical report containing raw chromatograms, calibration curves, quality control data, sample preparation details, and instrument parameters; and (iii) an interpretive summary that places the results in the context of the client's operations—for example, explaining the likely source of contamination, assessing the effectiveness of current mitigation measures, or recommending targeted interventions. For clients with multiple time-points or locations, we perform statistical analysis (t-tests, ANOVA) and provide trend plots to visualise changes over time. We also offer predictive modeling of mycotoxin risk based on environmental and processing data, using our internally developed machine learning algorithms. All raw data files (e.g., .raw, .csv, .dx) are supplied for full transparency and re-analysis.

Broad Applications Across Food, Feed, and Environmental Sectors

The versatility of our mycotoxin detection service makes it invaluable across multiple sectors. In food processing and manufacturing, our testing supports incoming raw material quality control, in-process monitoring, and final product release. In animal feed production, we ensure that feed ingredients and finished feeds comply with EU and FDA mycotoxin guidelines, protecting animal health and preventing carry-over into the food chain. In agricultural and commodity trading, our independent analysis provides the data needed for contract specification, grading, and dispute resolution. In regulatory and enforcement agencies, our accredited methods support national surveillance programmes and the enforcement of mycotoxin legislation. In environmental research and monitoring, our assays are used to assess the presence of mycotoxins in dust, air, and water samples from agricultural and food processing environments. In research and development, our detailed mycotoxin profiling supports studies on fungal ecology, plant breeding for resistance, and the development of novel mitigation strategies. Our ability to adapt the analytical approach to the specific matrix, target analyte, and client's requirements ensures that we serve a diverse clientele with efficiency and expertise.

Commitment to Innovation, Quality, and Client Partnership

We are dedicated to maintaining leadership in mycotoxin analytics through continuous technological advancement and a culture of scientific excellence. Our current R&D includes the development of ambient ionisation mass spectrometry (e.g., DART, DESI) for rapid, direct analysis of mycotoxins in food surfaces, and the integration of hyperspectral imaging with chemometric models for non-destructive screening of bulk commodities. We actively participate in standardisation working groups (e.g., CEN, AOAC) and contribute to the development of reference methods and certified reference materials. Our quality management system is ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certified, and we undergo regular external audits. We offer flexible service models—from single-sample analysis to long-term monitoring contracts with dedicated account management, volume-based pricing, and priority handling for urgent requests. Our global logistics network provides sample kits with stabilisers and clear instructions to ensure mycotoxin integrity during transport. Turnaround times are typically 3–5 business days for standard LC-MS/MS analysis and 5–7 business days for comprehensive HRMS profiling, with expedited options available. We maintain open, transparent communication, providing preliminary results upon request and final reports with full documentation. Our success is measured by the confidence our clients have in their data, enabling them to make safe, compliant, and informed decisions. We invite you to partner with us for precise, reliable, and insightful mycotoxin detection services.

In summary, our mycotoxin detection service delivers a comprehensive, precise, and regulation-ready analytical solution that combines state-of-the-art UHPLC-MS/MS, rigorous quality assurance, and expert interpretative support. By offering unmatched sensitivity, selectivity, and adaptability across all relevant sample types, we empower our clients to safeguard public health, protect brand integrity, and ensure regulatory compliance. We look forward to supporting your mycotoxin analysis needs with our unwavering commitment to quality.