An Interlaboratory Comparison Study of Regulated and Emerging Mycotoxins Using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry: Challenges and Future Directions of Routine Multi-Mycotoxin Analysis including Emerging Mycotoxins
David Steiner,
Armin Humpel,
Eleonore Stamminger,
Anna Schoeberl,
Gerlinde Pachschwoell,
Anita Sloboda,
Christy Swoboda,
Jolene Rigg,
Dawei Zhang,
Yahong Wang,
Joshua Davis,
Michael Sulyok,
Rudolf Krska,
Brian Quinn,
Brett Greer,
Christopher T. Elliott,
Zbynek Dzuman,
Jana Hajslova,
Andreas Gschaider,
Carina Fechner,
Lisa Forstner,
Elisabeth Varga,
Piotr Jedziniak,
Katarzyna Pietruszka,
Adrianna Rudawska,
Alexandra Malachová
Affiliations
David Steiner
Romer Labs Diagnostic GmbH, Analytical Service Department, Technopark 5, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Armin Humpel
Romer Labs Diagnostic GmbH, Analytical Service Department, Technopark 5, 3430 Tulln, Austria
Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 3430 Vienna, Austria
Rudolf Krska
Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 3430 Vienna, Austria
Brian Quinn
Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Brett Greer
Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Christopher T. Elliott
Institute for Global Food Security, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
Zbynek Dzuman
Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Jana Hajslova
Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Andreas Gschaider
LVA GmbH, Department for Residue Analysis, Magdeburggasse 10, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
Carina Fechner
LVA GmbH, Department for Residue Analysis, Magdeburggasse 10, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
Lisa Forstner
LVA GmbH, Department for Residue Analysis, Magdeburggasse 10, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
Elisabeth Varga
Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38-40, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Piotr Jedziniak
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
Katarzyna Pietruszka
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
Adrianna Rudawska
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
Alexandra Malachová
FFoQSI—Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety & Innovation, FFoQSI GmbH, 3430 Tulln, Austria
The present interlaboratory comparison study involved nine laboratories located throughout the world that tested for 24 regulated and non-regulated mycotoxins by applying their in-house LC-MS/MS multi-toxin method to 10 individual lots of 4 matrix commodities, including complex chicken and swine feed, soy and corn gluten. In total, more than 6000 data points were collected and analyzed statistically by calculating a consensus value in combination with a target standard deviation following a modified Horwitz equation. The performance of each participant was evaluated by a z-score assessment with a satisfying range of ±2, leading to an overall success rate of 70% for all tested compounds. Equal performance for both regulated and emerging mycotoxins indicates that participating routine laboratories have successfully expanded their analytical portfolio in view of potentially new regulations. In addition, the study design proved to be fit for the purpose of providing future certified reference materials, which surpass current analyte matrix combinations and exceed the typical scope of the regulatory framework.
