COMPETITIVE ELISA FOR QUANTIFYING SMALL AMOUNTS OF AFLATOXIN B-1

An indirect ELISA was developed to quantify aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)). Th e detection limit was 0.025 ng ml(-1). The test used polyvinyl chlorid e (PVC) plates, activated with AFB(1) bound to bovine serum albumin (B SA). Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits against AFB(1)-BSA. The specific anti-AFB(1) antibodies were recovered from the crude anti serum by affinity chromatography from a column containing immobilized BSA on Nylon 6-6. Goat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies bound to peroxidase were used to detect the rabbit Ige anti-AFB(1) antibodies bound to PVC plates. The colour developed by the subsequent enzyme conversion of t he substrate was detected by spectrophotometry. The developed colour g ave clear absorbance differences at varying doses of AFB(1). Cross-rea ctivity with aflatoxin B-2, aflatoxin G(1) and aflatoxin G(2) was meas ured, showing percentages of 5.43, 64.5 and 5.07 respectively.