Sixty one samples of fluid and powder milk from Belo Horizonte / Minas Gerais - Brasil, period of August 98/April 99, were examined for aflatoxin M1. The quantification was done by high performance liquid chromatography using an immunoaffinity column for cleanup. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 6 ng/L. Average recoveries and coefficients of variation were higher than 88,9% and lower than 22,4%, respectively. AFM1 was found in 50 (82%) of the analyzed samples, but at levels lower than 500 ng/L, which is the maximum limit permitted in Brazil.
aflatoxin M1; milk; high performance liquid chromatography; immunoaffinity column
