A test that could make mycotoxin detection faster and cheaper is ready to move out of the lab stage.
Mycotoxins are found in everything from grains to fruit.
They can cause illness and even death in both humans and animals.
Fusarium is an example of a mycotoxin.
Carlton University professor Doctor Maria DeRosa and her team are developing a small test strip that will glow in the presence of mycotoxins when illuminated with a handheld UV light.
DeRosa's team includes Doctor Art Schaafsma from Ridgetown and Doctor David Miller, also at Carleton.
Their test strip would replace current testing methods, which include visual inspection and the taking and analysing of random samples from a load of grain or corn at the elevator.
The researchers believe their method will be cheaper, and more accurate.
Their next step is to move testing of the new technology to a larger scale beyond the lab and into a commercial setting.
