Alltech has announced the expansion of its mycotoxin testing program offering through a collaboration with Waters | VICAM. The company’s Alltech® RAPIREAD™ system now includes the connection to Waters | VICAM’s analytical tool Vertu™ TOUCH, which reportedly has the technology to detect six mycotoxin levels in a single sample within 10 minutes.
USA-based company Alltech has announced the expansion of its mycotoxin testing program Alltech® RAPIREAD™, which now includes a new collaboration with Waters™ | VICAM® and the connection to its analytical tool, Vertu™ TOUCH. Offering simple touch-screen operation, the company explained that the Vertu TOUCH lateral flow strip test reader works in concert with VICAM’s Vertu strip tests to deliver full-range quantitative results for up to six major mycotoxins, including aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin (DON), zearalenone, ochratoxin A and the combination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins.
Mycotoxins, which are natural substances produced by molds and fungi, are more prevalent — and more of a problem in agriculture — than ever before. Results from the 2024 Alltech Harvest Analysis show that more than 95% of crops today are contaminated with at least one mycotoxin and usually two or more, thus demonstrating the need for robust quality control programs. Because these toxins are difficult to detect, they can cause significant damage to animal health before producers even realize they are present, hence a proactive mycotoxin management program is essential.
“Since mycotoxins are a continuous problem for the agricultural industry, it is important for producers to understand the risk to their feed and animals,” said Dr. Alexandra Weaver, Global Technical Support for Alltech. “Rapid tests at the feed mill or on-farm can be used to detect the mycotoxin type or content, but including Alltech RAPIREAD can assist in understanding how the mycotoxins could actually impact the performance, health or profitability of production.”
Alltech RAPIREAD launched in 2020 to enable customers to identify and analyze mycotoxin risks within minutes. This began, and continues, with a collaboration with Neogen® and integration to its Raptor® testing device, designed for use on-farm or in feed mills to test individual grains and forages.
Complementing the continued connection with Neogen, this new collaboration with Waters | VICAM using the ONE line of quantitative strip tests will expand analysis capabilities to include complete feed, while keeping Alltech RAPIREAD at the forefront for data collection, risk assessment and consultation, according to the announcement.
The Waters | VICAM Vertu TOUCH reader and mixer was launched three years ago with updated features, including a touch screen for ease of use and the technology to detect six mycotoxin levels in a single sample within 10 minutes. This has reportedly added a greater opportunity for on-site testing with ease of use, faster time to results and extremely high quality of results.
“Waters | VICAM has been delivering quality mycotoxin testing products to the food and feed industries since 1987,” said Lanny Smith, Global Sales Manager of Waters | VICAM. “The addition of the CT-Connect enables the Vertu TOUCH to work with Alltech’s RAPIREAD system to transfer data securely across all networks.”
To learn more about this collaboration between Alltech and Waters | VICAM, attendees can visit the Alltech booth in Hall A #1211 at the 2025 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) from January 28-30 in Atlanta, USA.
