Water-based tests

With WET tests (Water Extraction Technology), you extract the toxin from the ground sample using an extraction powder and plain water. No methanol, no fume extraction, no chemical waste. Every strip is read in the EZ-M and recorded in EZ Receiver.

The water-based tests

Six tests, four toxin groups. The time indicates the incubation time in the EZ-M; extraction is not included.

How it works

1. Grind the sample and weigh it out.
2. Add the extraction powder and water, then shake.
3. Allow to settle and dilute.
4. Insert the strip into the EZ-M; it identifies the test by colour and incubates at 45 °C.
5. Read the result; the reading is transferred to EZ Receiver.

What you need alongside the strip

• Grinding equipment that passes at least 90% through a 20-mesh sieve
• A balance accurate to 0.1 g and pipettes for the dilution steps
• Control samples and calibration strips for daily checks
• Consistent recording of batch, silo and sampling time — in EZ Receiver
• A specialist to supervise validation on your commodity — the expert service from MCS Diagnostics

Where no water-based test exists — the fastest alternative

For ochratoxin A and T-2/HT-2, the methanol method is the fastest available. They run on the same EZ-M and are sent to the same EZ Receiver.

The methanol options

For commodities where the water method is not validated, or for a lower limit of quantification, the FAST variants with 70% methanol are available: AFQ-FAST (3 min in maize, 5 min in other commodities), FUMQ-FAST5 and ZEARQ-FAST5. They require extraction ventilation and disposal of methanol waste.

Higher levels (above 100 µg/kg aflatoxin, above 5 mg/kg fumonisins) are measured using an additional dilution; the procedure is available on request. For DONQ2, separate settings have been available for maize and DDGS (a maize co-product) since October 2026, identifiable by yellow labels.

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