Negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric method for confirmation of identity of aflatoxin B1: collaborative study.

An interlaboratory study of a negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric (MS) confirmation procedure for aflatoxin B1 was conducted in laboratories in the United States, England, and West Germany. Twelve partially purified, dry film extracts from naturally and artificially contaminated roasted peanuts, cottonseed, and ginger root containing varying quantities of aflatoxin B1 were distributed to the participating laboratories. The extracts required additional cleanup before MS analysis, using either an acidic alumina column and preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) or a 2-dimensional TLC procedure. Recovery of purified aflatoxin B1 was influenced by the degree of recovery of sample from acid alumina and/or the TLC plate and incomplete elution of aflatoxin B1 from silica gel. Factors affecting MS confirmation included the purity and recovery of aflatoxin and MS instrument sensitivity. Aflatoxin B1 identity was confirmed in 19.5, 90.9, and 100% of samples containing less than 5, 5-10, and greater than 10 ng aflatoxin B1/g product, respectively, by solid probe introduction using full mass scans. The MS method has been adopted official first action.