title: Effect of sample size in the evaluation of "in-field" sampling plans for aflatoxin B(1) determination in corn.
abstract: Use of proper sampling methods throughout the agri-food chain is crucial when it comes to effectively detecting contaminants in foods and feeds. The objective of the study was to estimate the performance of sampling plan designs to determine aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) contamination in corn fields. A total of 840 ears were selected from a corn field suspected of being contaminated with aflatoxin. The mean and variance among the aflatoxin values for each ear were 10.6 mug/kg and 2233.3, respectively. The variability and confidence intervals associated with sample means of a given size could be predicted using an equation associated with the normal distribution. Sample sizes of 248 and 674 ears would be required to estimate the true field concentration of 10.6 mug/kg within +/-50 and +/-30%, respectively. Using the distribution information from the study, operating characteristic curves were developed to show the performance of various sampling plan designs.
authors.affiliation: GMO and Mycotoxins Unit, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Italian Institute for Health (ISS), Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy. carlo.brera@iss.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brera
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prantera
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Debegnach
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pannunzi
authors.forename: Floriana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berdini
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Slate
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraglia
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Whitaker
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018401:Sample Size; D015983:Selection Bias; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1