Detection of T-2 Toxin in Wheat and Maize with a Portable Mass Spectrometer

Abstract

T-2 toxin is a mycotoxin routinely found as a contaminant of cereal grains worldwide. A portable mass spectrometer was adapted to enable the detection of T-2 toxin in wheat and maize by APCI-MS. In order to facilitate rapid testing, a rapid cleanup was used. The method was able to detect T-2 toxin in soft white wheat, hard red wheat, and yellow dent maize and could be used to screen for T-2 at levels above 0.2 mg/kg. The HT-2 toxin was only detectable at very high levels (>0.9 mg/kg). Based on these results, the sensitivity was not sufficient to allow the application of the screening method to these commodities at levels recommended by the European Commission. With a cut-off level of 0.107 mg/kg, the method correctly classified nine of ten reference samples of wheat and maize. The results suggest that portable MS detection of T-2 toxin is feasible. However, additional research will be needed to develop an application sensitive enough to meet regulatory requirements.