An extensive overview on reference materials
for trichothecenes and method validation was given by Josephs et al. (2004). In case of
contracting out analytical services to a private laboratory it is important to ensure that it is
a laboratory that conducts mycotoxins on a routine basis and uses the correct confirmatory
method.
Unfortunately there is no multi-toxin rapid test format in the market that suits the practical
conditions of a feed mill. Therefore routine testing needs to be established for the most
likely occurring toxins out of a specific area. That is only viable when the origin of ingrediets
is known, i.e. when the cereals are procured directly from the producing area. In the case of
traded goods it is known by experience that different commodities are more often contaminated
with certain mycotoxins. An empirical testing plan can then be suggested, based on
comprehensive testing of the major traded goods from a certain area as a precondition. But
as terms of trade change quickly so must the chart for the testing. Continuous testing and
adjustment may lead to the development of an efficient testing plan according to the special
needs of an operation. An overview about feedstuffs and their associated mycotoxins was
given by Pettersson (2004).
A mycotoxin testing plan is also defined by the mycotoxin test procedure (sample size,
sample preparation method, and analytical method) and the respective accept/reject limit,
i.e. the predefined threshold that separates acceptable lots from unacceptable lots. Because of
the variability associated with each step of the mycotoxin test procedure, the true mycotoxin
concentration of a bulk lot cannot be determined with 100% certainty. As a result, some lots
can still be misclassified by the sampling program and the magnitude of the risk associated
with misclassification is directly related to the magnitude of the variability associated with
the mycotoxin test procedure (Whitaker, 2003).