Ensure Patients Are Not Exposed to Unsafe Levels of Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by certain fungi that can infect and proliferate on various agricultural commodities in the field and/or during storage.
Exposure to highly carcinogenic aflatoxins—a type of mycotoxin—can cause abdominal pain, edema, hemorrhaging, liver damage, mental impairment, convulsions, coma, and even death.
We use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify and quantify mycotoxins.
Like mold and mildew, susceptibility to fungal contamination is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and level of rainfall from pre- to post-harvest. The extent of contamination will vary with geographic location, agricultural and agronomic practices, and the susceptibility of commodities to fungal invasion. Sensitive times are during pre-harvest, storage, and/or processing periods.
For tips, please review our Microbial Screening page for tips on how you can reduce mold contamination.