Comparison of gas chromatography electron capture and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for deoxynivalenol in milled fractions of naturally contaminated wheat

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for deoxynivalenol was compare d with a gas chromatography-electron capture assay to determine deoxynivale nol levels in milled fractions of wheat. The milling provided eight fractio ns: first, second, and third break flours; first, second, and third reducti on flours; brans; and shorts. The difference between levels of deoxynivalen ol quantitated by ELISA or gas chromatography did not depend significantly on the wheat samples or milled wheat fractions. For none of the fractions o r samples did the differences differ significantly (P = 0.05) from zero. Ba sed on these comparative tests, ELISAs for deoxynivalenol in milled wheat f ractions should provide reliable results rapidly and economically in a comm ercial setting.