Detection of aflatoxin B1 in serum samples of male Japanese subjects by radioimmunoassay and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was detected in serum samples of healthy Japanese males by radioimmunoassay and high-performance liquid chromatography. Blood samples were obtained from 20 subjects after fasting and from 80 subjects after lunch. The subjects ranged in age from 20 to 63 years of age. Measurement of AFB1 in the samples was performed by radioimmunoassay and was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography using a mu Porasil column and a C18-mu Bondapak column after the conversion of AFB1 to its water adduct AFB2a. AFB1 was detected in 5 of 20 fasting blood samples [20 to 56 pg/ml of serum; 33.6 +/- 14.6 (S.D.)] and in 29 of 80 serum samples taken after lunch (20 to 1169 pg/ml of serum; 218.1 +/- 268.3). Mass spectral analysis of the material obtained after high-performance liquid chromatography separation from serum samples confirmed the presence of AFB1.