Common toxins such as:
- Aflatoxin
- Ochratoxin A
- Fumonisin
- DON (Deoxynivalenol)
- Zearalenone
- T-2/HT-2 Toxin
Today, two methods are commonly used to test for mycotoxins:
- Mycotoxin rapid test (Rapid Test)
- HPLC method (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
👉 So which is the optimal choice for businesses?
What is a mycotoxin rapid test?
- R-Biopharm offers many lines of mycotoxin rapid test such as RIDA®QUICK, allowing rapid detection of the toxin within 5–15 minutes.
* Advantages:
- Fast (5–15 minutes)
- Low cost
- No need for highly specialised technicians
- Suitable for on-site / QC testing
* Disadvantages:
- Lower accuracy than reference methods
- Mainly qualitative or semi-quantitative
What is the HPLC method?
- HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) is a modern analytical method used to accurately quantify the mycotoxin content in a sample.
* Advantages:
- Very high accuracy and reliability
- Gives a specific quantitative result
- Recognised in official testing
* Disadvantages:
- High investment cost (equipment + operation)
- Long analysis time (a few hours to a few days)
- Requires highly qualified technicians
Comparison table: mycotoxin rapid test vs HPLC
When should you use a mycotoxin rapid test?
👉 A rapid test is the optimal choice when:
- You need to test incoming raw materials quickly
- Screening samples before sending them to the lab
- On-site testing (factory, warehouse, port)
- Reducing testing costs
💡 Especially suitable for:
- Animal feed plants
- Agricultural export businesses
- Food processing plants
When should you use HPLC?
👉 HPLC is suitable when:
- You need accurate results for declaration
- Serving legal documentation
- Testing according to international standards
💡 Usually used at:
- Testing centres
- ISO 17025-accredited labs
- State regulatory bodies
The optimal solution: combining rapid tests and HPLC
In practice, many businesses are applying the model:
- Step 1: Mycotoxin rapid test for screening
- Step 2: Suspected sample → send for HPLC confirmation
✔ Helps save costs
✔ Increases quality control speed
✔ Ensures accuracy when needed
Conclusion
No method is “absolutely the best”; there is only the method suited to the intended use:
👉 Mycotoxin rapid test: fast – economical – convenient
👉 HPLC: accurate – standardised – in-depth
Businesses should combine both to optimise the effectiveness of food safety control.