COMPARISON OF THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY AND AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF DEOXYNIVALENOL IN CORNAND WHEAT

The trichothecene, deoxynivalenol (DON), is a common mycotoxin found i n wheat and corn. Detection methods for DON have limitations in accura cy, sensitivity, ease of use, and turnaround time. Two methods, thin-l ayer chromatography (TLC) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (EL ISA) for DON detection and quantification were compared. The methods v aried considerably in the amounts of DON detected in 51 different grai n samples, with the ELISA method showing higher concentrations than th e TLC method. Much of the unaccounted-for DON may have been lost durin g sample preparation for the TLC method. Recovery rates for the TLC me thod at DON levels of 1 and 5 ppm were 46% and 25% in corn grits and 3 2% and 26% in ground wheat respectively. Recovery rates for the ELISA method at 1 and 5 ppm levels were both 96% in corn grits and respectiv ely 83% and 69% in ground wheat. The ELISA method was much faster and less laborious than the TLC method and did not use organic solvents, w hich are required in the TLC method.