Ochratoxin A ELISA

Enzyme immunoassay for the rapid quantitative determination of Ochratoxin A in cereals, beer/gyle and wine.

Background: Ochratoxins belong to the group of mycotoxines. They are produced by various fungi types of the species Aspergillus and Penicillium. From six known ochratoxins, ochratoxin A (OTA) shows the highest toxicity. Ochratoxins are hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic, inhibit mitochondrial transporter systems and the synthesis of proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Ochratoxins occur specially on grains and grain products. After having used contaminated barley in the beer brewing process up to 40 % of the toxin is found in the beer.
In the European Union the limits for ochratoxin A are 2 – 80 ppb for regular food products. Thus a monitoring of food and feed with respect to the concentration of ochratoxin A is obligatory. Ochratoxin A ELISA represents a highly sensitive detection system and is particulary capable of the rapid quantification of ochratoxin A contaminations in cereals, beer and wine.

Description: The Ochratoxin A quantitative test is based on the principle of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An antibody binding protein is coated on the surface of a microtiter plate. Ochratoxin A containing samples or standards, an ochratoxin-peroxidase conjugate and an antibody directed against ochratoxin A are given into the wells of the microtiter plate. The conjugate competes with the ochratoxin A of samples/standards for the limited number of antibody sites. Simultaneously the anti-ochratoxin antibody is bound to the antibody-binding protein coated on the microtiter plate. After 10 minutes incubation at room temperature the wells are washed with diluted washing solution to remove unbound material. A substrate solution is added and incubated for 5 minutes, resulting in the development of a blue colour. The colour development is inhibited by the addition of a stop solution, and the colour turns yellow. The yellow colour is measured photometrically at 450 nm. The concentration of ochratoxin A is indirectly proportional to the colour intensity of the test sample.

Product Features:
- The kit contains reagents for 96 determinations;
- Microtiter plate consisting of 12 strips with 8 breakable wells;
- Ochratoxin A Standards: 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 ppb;
- ELISA reader at 450 nm;
- Standard range: 2 - 50 ppb;
- Sensitivity analytical: 0.8 ppb.