Alltech analyses 10,000th sample for mycotoxins

The Alltech Mycotoxin Management programme concluded in 2015 on a high note as its extensive mycotoxin analysis completed testing on its 10,000th sample, the company announced.

Since Alltech's Analytical Services Laboratory opened in September 2012, more than 10,000 domestic and international samples have been analysed for mycotoxin contamination at the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited facility.

An international standard that recognises the competence of testing laboratories, ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is the basis of laboratory accreditation in more than 35 countries.

The laboratory received over 50 different feed sample types from more than 80 countries since it first opened in Winchester, Kentucky, US. Its proprietary 37+® LC/MS/MS analytical method, developed by Alltech, is state-of-the-art in detection and quantisation of more than 37 mycotoxins at parts per billion (ppb) and parts per trillion (ppt) levels.

"This 10,000-sample milestone sets the bar in global mycotoxin investigation and reaffirms our customers' confidence in the precise, accurate and thorough testing of Alltech's 37+ mycotoxin analysis programme," said Steve Mobley, manager of the Analytical Services Laboratory.

"Our diagnostic approach allows us to further investigate livestock and poultry health issues, study global mycotoxin trends and develop comprehensive, customised mycotoxin management programmes for our customers."

From the samples submitted over the past three years, the Alltech 37+ mycotoxin analysis has been able to put together an extensive portfolio on worldwide mycotoxin contamination and regional trends over time. The laboratory has found 97% of tested samples containing one or more mycotoxins, with an average of six mycotoxins per sample. Type B Trichothecenes and Fumonisins were present in more than 70% of samples.

In conjunction with the Alltech Mycotoxin Management programme, the Analytical Services Laboratory provides a powerful database to recognise mycotoxin issues around the world in a more accurate perspective.

Additionally, Alltech's proprietary "traffic light" risk assessment provides insight to the additive and synergistic effect of mycotoxins on different animal species and ages when detected in multiple and even low level concentrations.