Quality Assurance Issues

Quality assurance, method validation and confirmatory techniques are crucial procedures when considering the analysis and testing of mycotoxins. A mycotoxin test is only as good as the quality assurance scheme in place at the time of analysis. Although this aspect is part of the analytical methodology, it also covers other areas such as validation of immunoassays, pre-normative and co-normative standardisation and proficiency testing.

Proficiency testing is considered to be a useful tool for the evaluation of analytical methods, as well as being a tool for the laboratories to assess their performance. Reference materials are also invaluable to mycotoxin-testing laboratories.

Analytical programmes for mycotoxins also require a degree of confirmation of positive results. These include system checks, recovery checks, or further analytical strategies.

To provide this information fact/information sheets are available on:

• Validation of methods
• Laboratory proficiency testing
• Validated methods for mycotoxins
• Reference materials
• European quality assurance
• European accreditation schemes
• Confirmatory strategies

A training course is also available, and will cover aspects of quality assurance, method validation and confirmatory techniques.