The influence of strongly coloured foodstuffs on the performance of rapid on-site mycotoxin tests

Mycotoxines zijn secundaire metabolieten geproduceerd door schimmels, die veelvuldig als contaminanten in voedsel aanwezig zijn. Bij inname kunnen ze acuut-toxische of chronisch-toxische effecten (zoals carcinogene, teratogene en oestrogene) teweegbrengen bij mens en dier. Omwille van de volksgezondheid dienen mycotoxines opgespoord te worden in voedingsmiddelen. De meest betrouwbare analysemethodes maken gebruik van chromatografische technieken, zoals GC-MS, HPLC en LC-MS. Die zijn echter duur en tijdrovend. Vandaar de groeiende vraag naar snelle detectiemethodes die ook buiten het laboratorium uitgevoerd kunnen worden. De bedoeling is dat op de plaats van staalname onmiddellijk een antwoord kan gegeven worden op de vraag of een welbepaald mycotoxine al dan niet in een monster aanwezig is. Aangezien snelle membraantesten, zoals flow-through en dipstick immunoassays problemen van kleuradsorptie en interferentie geven bij sterk gekleurde voedingsmiddelen (geroosterde koffie, cacao, specerijen, rode wijn, bier), werd hiervoor een nieuw type veldtest ontwikkeld: de clean-up tandem assay column. In deze test gebeurt de opzuivering en de detectie (al dan niet blauwkleuring) in één stap

Patient experiences of over-the-counter medicine purchases in Flemish community pharmacies

Objective Patient use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines contributes to improving public health and reducing public pharmaceutical expenditure. However, little is known of patient experiences of pharmacy distribution and services related to OTC medicines. The aim of this study is to explore patient experiences of purchasing OTC medicines in Flemish community pharmacies. Method Data were gathered from an anonymous postal questionnaire survey of patients purchasing OTC medicines in a random sample of Flemish community pharmacies in April 2008. The self-administered questionnaire related to the most recent purchase of OTC medicines by a patient in a community pharmacy. The questionnaire included questions about: (a) sources of information about OTC medicines; (b) the patient relationship with pharmacist and physician; (c) organization and layout of the pharmacy; (d) distribution channels; and (e) patient satisfaction. Questions were generally measured using Likert scales. The questionnaire was piloted among patients. Results One hundred and fifty-five pharmacies consented to distribute questionnaires to five patients each, yielding a total of 358 useable questionnaires (response rate of 46%). The first point of contact about OTC medicines was the pharmacist (61% of patients), followed by the physician (29%). Newspapers and the internet were not viewed as primary sources of advice on OTC medicines. Patients tended to purchase OTC medicines for the acute treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal conditions, common cold, cough or musculo-skeletal pain. More than 75% of patients felt that pharmacists provided sufficient information about the health condition and OTC medicine use. About one-third of patients did not wish the physician to be informed of their OTC medicine use. Patients did not seem to agree with distribution channels for OTC medicines other than the community pharmacy. Conclusions Flemish patients were satisfied with pharmacy distribution and services related to OTC medicines. They see an important role for pharmacists and physicians to accompany them in their OTC medicine use. Our results highlighted the need to strengthen communication between patients, pharmacists and physicians. It is also recommended that pharmacists keep an individual record detailing patient use of OTC and prescription medicines.status: publishe

Application and validation of the clean-up tandem assay column for the screening of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder

International audienceA rapid antibody-based assay for the detection of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder is described, involving sequential clean-up and visual detection of the toxin (‘clean-up tandem assay column'). The test was developed to have a cut-off level of 2 µg kg-1 and was shown to have false positive and false negative rates of 10 % and 2 % respectively. The analysis of six samples can be carried out in the field in approximately 30 min by untrained workers. Ten retail cocoa powders were all found not to contain detectable ochratoxin A (< 2 µg kg-1) by the proposed rapid screening. These samples were also found to be negative (< 2 µg kg-1) when analysed using an LC-MS/MS method

Novel developments in rapid mycotoxin detection

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