Comparison of radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determining aflatoxin M1 in milk.

Using a highly specific antibody against aflatoxin M1, a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were developed for the quantitation of M1 in milk. RIA was sensitive in the range of 5-50 ng per assay but was subject to interference by whole milk. Extraction and cleanup were therefore necessary for the detection of M1 in milk at 0.5 ng/mL. An ELISA procedure was developed by using an aflatoxin M1-carboxymethyl-horseradish peroxidase conjugate as the ligand. Competitive assays revealed that this system was relatively more sensitive for M1 than for B1, and had a much lower degree of cross-reactivity for aflatoxins B2, G1, G2, B2a, and aflatoxicol. As low as 0.25 ng M1/mL in artificially contaminated milk (raw, whole, skim) could be detected by ELISA in 3 h without extraction or cleanup. Because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity, ELISA is the preferred method for monitoring aflatoxin M1 in milk.