Vicam DON-NIV WB Immunoaffinity Column

Vicam, a Waters business, has introduced the DON-NIV WB Immunoaffinity (IA) Column, said to be the only IA column on the market to simultaneously screen for deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV). The product provides rapid and simple sample preparation using the strength of monoclonal antibody technology. Coupled with liquid chromatography analysis, the column provides over 90% recovery of both DON and NIV and increases the productivity of commercial, government and food safety research laboratories.

DON and NIV are trichothecene mycotoxins produced by fusarium moulds. Animal feeds which are contaminated with fusarium toxins cause feed refusal, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea - resulting in significant health, production and economic risks. NIV has also been linked to lung and brain haemorrhage and bone marrow injury through disruption of DNA and protein synthesis.

The column meets all of the EU regulations for the recovery of DON in food and feeds which specify 0.2 ppm for infant foods, 0.5 ppm for breads, pastries, biscuits and cereals, and 1.75 ppm for wheat, oats and maize. The US Food and Drug Administration advises no more than 1 ppm DON in wheat products intended for human consumption and specific levels for feeding of livestock animals. There are currently no set detection limits for NIV.