Zearalenone (ZEN) Rapid test

Zearalenone is an immunochromatographic test for fast detection of zearalenone mycotoxin in cereal, feed, nut and cereal beverage.

The presence of mycotoxins is harmful for both, animals and the people, that eat the meat. Zearalenone is produced by the Fusarium. This mycotoxin can also get to the milk, thus causing mycotoxicosis. Zearalenone is a chromatographic immunoassay kit for rapid detection of ZEN. The method is based on immunocompetence ELISA test. The binding of the test substance to the receptor surface binding site is examined to detect the mycotoxin in sample. Different color changes indicate different concentrations. This technology has high specificity, sensitivity, strong stability and anti-interference ability. The more mycotoxins in the sample, the less fluorescent-labeled antibodies is binding to the test line. The detection limit is 60 ppb.

MATERIALS PROVIDED

• Test Strip, 96 pcs in 12 plastic bottles, 8 pcs/bottle
• Zen concentrated diluent (10x), 15 ml*2
• Manual , 1pc
• Reader (optional).

MATERIALS REQUIRED, BUT NOT PROVIDED

• 70% ethanol (70 ml ethanol + 30 ml DI water)
• Pulverizer
• centrifuge

SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND STORAGE

1. Restore ZEN concentrated diluent (10x) to room temperature, make sure the precipitated crystals are completely dissolved before use. (Sample buffer: take NaCl 16g, Na₂HPO₄32g, NaH₂PO₄, 1.96g, 2 ml tween-20, dissolve with 100 ml deionized water or distilled water).
2. Dilute ZEN concentrated diluent (10x) with deionized water in ratio of 1:9. Store in 2-8°C for later use.
3. 10g of cereal ground into a powder, then weight 5g (accurate to 0.01g) and place in a centrifuge tube.
4. Add 20ml of ethanol (70%) and mix for 2 minutes. Then centrifuge for 5 minutes at 6000 rpm.
5. Mix 50 µl of the sample supernatant and 950 µl of the ZEN diluent.

TEST PROCEDURE

1. Place all specimens, test devices, and allow them to room temperature prior to testing.
2. Remove the reagent bucket from the original packaging, then open it, remove the required number of microwell reagents and test strips and mark them. Please, use it as soon as possible within 60 min. Immediately after removing the test reagent, cover the lid.
3. Pipette 200 µl to microwells. Slowly aspirate and mix well with reagents in the microwells.
4. After incubating for 5 min at room temperature (20-25 °C), insert the labeled test strip into the microwell with the end with ‘MAX’ sign. Allow it to fully immerse into the solution.
5. After incubating for 5 minutes at room temperature (20-25 °C) again, take out the strip and judge according to the schematic diagram.
6. The results can be analyzed by standard way or using the reader.

INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS

QUALITATIVE READING

POSITIVE: T line color is the same as C line, T line color is weaker than C line or C line is colored and T line is not colored at all. That means, that the concentration of aflatoxin B1 in the sample is equal to or higher, than the detection limit.

NEGATIVE: Both, the C and T lines are colored and the T line is stronger than the C line. That indicates, that the concentration of aflatoxin in the sample is below the detection limit.

INVALID: The C line does not appear, indicating the incorrect operation process or strip deterioration. In this case, read the instructions carefully and retest with a new strip. If the test strip needs to be recorded, please cut off the lower sponge pad immediately after the interpretation and dry it for archiving.