Educator Resources for Virtual Labs: Testing for Corn Mold Mycotoxins

Corn that is intended for consumption by humans or animals must be tested for the presence of the dangerous Aspergillus mold, which produces a toxin. In this virtual lab, look at a sample of corn under black light to see if it glows. Then, grind up the corn, prepare a solution, and use a test strip to determine whether aflatoxin is present. You’ll practice using a pipette, adding solvent to extract toxins, diluting a solution, and maintaining consistent procedures.