Laboratories interested in becoming an approved laboratory must be capable of analyzing official samples of peanuts for aflatoxin using any of the following acceptable test methods:

1. An immunoaffinity column cleanup with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method (AOAC Official Method 991.31, A-F, H)

2. Water slurry method with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis, designated as the Alternative Best Foods (BF) method (AOAC Official Method 998.03)

3. An immunoaffinity column with direct fluorometry method (AOAC Official Method 991.31, A-G)

4. Verotox® Quantitative Aflatoxin Single Test (AST) competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A letter requesting admission into the program must be submitted to Technical Services Staff of the S&T program at the following address:

James V. Falk, Program Manager

Laboratory Approval Program, Aflatoxin in Peanuts

USDA, AMS, Science & Technology, TSS, STOP 0272

1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 3533-S

Washington, D.C. 20250-0272