Randox to launch its first mycotoxin product

The BioChip Array Technology, developed by Randox, can already detect up to 23 different analytes from a single sample. With the release of the Ergot Alkaloids on BioChip Array Technology, the company has entered a new market as well.

“With one of the most comprehensive drug residue testing menus on the market, our research and development process is geared strongly towards new products. Although testing for mycotoxins is a new market, the underpinning immunoassay science for drug residue screening is the same. Therefore, with our experience, we are absolutely confident we have a product equal to the quality of our meat, honey and dairy screening tests”, Randox Food Diagnostics Global Business Manager David Ferguson said.

Ergot alkaloids are produced by fungi of all species of the Claviceps genus, which parasitise the seed heads of living plants at the time of flowering. The fungus replaces the developing grain or seed with the alkaloid wintering body, known as ergot, ergot body or sclerotium.

Contaminated feed with toxic levels of ergot alkaloids has been found to affect the reproductive cycles of pigs, poultry and cattle, causing animals to terminate pregnancies. They also have been shown to impact upon digestive systems, resulting in poor weight-gain for meat production.