DON Testing in Wheat

Step 1: Reference flour being ground to use as reference standards.

Step 2: Samples are stored in envelopes. Flour is weighed on the scale and then transferred to a tube for extraction.

Step 3: Racks of tubes with flour for extraction. One set of 48 tubes is processed at a time. Paperwork for each set stays with the racks throughout the process.

Step 4: Each tube is injected with extraction solvent and capped.

Step 5: Racks being placed on the shaker.

Step 6: Two racks of 48 tubes consisting of QC and test samples are being shaken for one hour; then they sit on the counter to settle for an hour before filtering.

Step 7: Pipetting a subsample of the extract solution to the column filter.

Step 8: A row of column filters above a row of collection tubes, a subsample of the filtrate will be transferred to a screw cap tube to be dried.

Step 9: Placing tubes in the needle drier assembly; sample is brought down to dryness.

Step 10: The needles are suspended above the fluid in each tube and compressed gas along with heat will dry them in an hour.

Step 11: Derivatization solvent is pipetted into each tube, it is capped, vortexed and incubated for a period of time. After the incubation period each tube is pipetted with the injection solvent that contains an internal standard, followed by pipetting a small amount of water into each tube.  Each tube is vortexed to ensure adequate mixing.

Step 12: Tubes are shaken for 5 minutes, then the samples rest for 15 minutes allowing for separation of the two fractions (injection solvent/water).

Step 13: A tray of 48 vials is ready to be run on the gas chromatograph (GC).

Step 14: Injection needle assembly being checked prior to operation.

Step 15: The operation log is filled in with sample information.

Step 16: Sample information being processed in the quantification software.

Step 17: Samples in queue for disposal once data has been recorded and sent to the researcher.

Ultra high performance liquid chromatograph with quadrapol time of flight tandem mass analyzer.