Detection of Aflatoxins and Related Metabolites by

have been raised against aflatoxin B, (AFB,) using as immunogen conjugates in which the hapten was coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) either through C1 or C8 with the oxime and the dichloride derivatives of AFB, as intermediates. Radioimmunoassay (RIA), with [3H]AFB, as tracer, showed that the antiserum prepared with the conjugate in which BSA was coupled to the AFB, oxime derivative was highly specific to AFB,. whereas the antiserum raised against the conjugate in which BSA was coupled to AFB, through the AFB,CI 2 derivative (C-antiserum) cross-reacted to a large extent with other aflatoxins, including aflatoxin M " an important urinary metabolite of AFB, in several species including humans. AFB,-related metabolites in the urine of inbred BO IV adult male rats given AFB, orally at doses from 600 pmol to 385 nmol can easily be followed over 9 days by RIA in which the "cross-reactive " C-antiserum is used. This suggests that similar methodologies could be used for the monitoring of huma