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Objective Patient use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines contributes to improving public health and reducing public pharmaceutical expenditure. However, little is known of patient experiences of pharmacy distribution and services related to OTC medicines. The aim of this study is to explore patient experiences of purchasing OTC medicines in Flemish community pharmacies. Method Data were gathered from an anonymous postal questionnaire survey of patients purchasing OTC medicines in a random sample of Flemish community pharmacies in April 2008. The self-administered questionnaire related to the most recent purchase of OTC medicines by a patient in a community pharmacy. The questionnaire included questions about: (a) sources of information about OTC medicines; (b) the patient relationship with pharmacist and physician; (c) organization and layout of the pharmacy; (d) distribution channels; and (e) patient satisfaction. Questions were generally measured using Likert scales. The questionnaire was piloted among patients. Results One hundred and fifty-five pharmacies consented to distribute questionnaires to five patients each, yielding a total of 358 useable questionnaires (response rate of 46%). The first point of contact about OTC medicines was the pharmacist (61% of patients), followed by the physician (29%). Newspapers and the internet were not viewed as primary sources of advice on OTC medicines. Patients tended to purchase OTC medicines for the acute treatment of pain, gastro-intestinal conditions, common cold, cough or musculo-skeletal pain. More than 75% of patients felt that pharmacists provided sufficient information about the health condition and OTC medicine use. About one-third of patients did not wish the physician to be informed of their OTC medicine use. Patients did not seem to agree with distribution channels for OTC medicines other than the community pharmacy. Conclusions Flemish patients were satisfied with pharmacy distribution and services related to OTC medicines. They see an important role for pharmacists and physicians to accompany them in their OTC medicine use. Our results highlighted the need to strengthen communication between patients, pharmacists and physicians. It is also recommended that pharmacists keep an individual record detailing patient use of OTC and prescription medicines.

A set-up and simple method based on the clean-up tandem immunoassay approach was developed for the visual detection of two analytes. The method was based on a 1 mL column with one clean-up layer and two detection immunolayers. As detection immunolayers CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B with coupled secondary rabbit anti-mouse antibodies was used. Different specific antibodies were coupled to each detection immunolayer. The analysis was realised in a competitive ELISA format with visual detection of the developed colour for each detection immunolayer and took 20 min for six sample extracts. The described method was applied to the simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A in spices with cut-off levels at 5 and 10 μg kg −1 , respectively. Results were confirmed by LC–MS/MS with immunoaffinity column clean-up.

A rapid antibody-based assay for the detection of ochratoxin A in cocoa powder is described, involving sequential clean-up and visual detection of the toxin ("clean-up tandem assay column"). The screening test was developed to have a cut-off level of 2 microg kg(-1) and was shown to have false positive and false negative rates of 10 and 2%, respectively. Analysis of six samples can be carried out in the field in approximately 30 min by untrained workers. Using the proposed rapid screening test, 10 retail cocoa powders were found to contain no detectable levels of ochratoxin A (2 microg kg(-1)). These samples were also found to be negative (2 microg kg(-1)) when analysed using an LC-MS/MS method.

An approach for ochratoxin A (OTA) fast cost-effective screening based on clean-up tandem immunoassay columns was developed and optimized for OTA detection with a cut-off level of 10 microg kg(-1) in spices. Two procedures were tested and applied for OTA detection. Column with bottom detection immunolayer was optimized for OTA determination in Capsicum ssp. spices. A modified clean-up tandem immunoassay procedure with top detection immunolayer was successfully applied for all tested spices. Its main advantages were decreasing of the number of analysis steps and quantity of antibody and also minimizing of matrix effects. The total duration of the extraction and analysis was about 40 min for six samples. Chilli, red pepper, pili-pili, cayenne, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, white pepper and black pepper samples were analyzed for OTA contamination by the proposed clean-up tandem immunoassay procedures. Clean-up tandem immunoassay results were confirmed by HPLC-MS/MS with immunoaffinity column clean-up. Among 17 tested Capsicum ssp. spices, 6 samples (35%) contained OTA in a concentration exceeding the 10 microg kg(-1) limit discussed by the European Commission. All tested nutmeg (n=8), ginger (n=5), white pepper (n=7) and black pepper (n=6) samples did not contain OTA above this action level.

Rapid antibody-based mycotoxin screening techniques are designed to be used outside a laboratory environment, at the place of sampling. Results are expected immediately, so that commodities can be further processed without delay. Because they are used for mycotoxin analysis, very low levels (ppb and ppt range) should be detected. A further requirement is that the obtained results are accurate with a false negative rate of5% at the level of interest.At first, plastic microtiter plates were used as solid phase materials for immobilizing antibodies (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays). However, to increase speed and user-friendliness, plastics were replaced by microporous membranes. As an example a flow-through enzyme immunoassay for the detection of fumonisins in cornflakes with a cut-off value of 275 μg/kg is described. No false negative results were observed and the false positive rate was 18%. However, enzyme labels, used to enable visual evaluation of results, did not seem to be completely satisfactory in terms of stability and repeatability of the generated signal. Therefore microparticle labels such as colloidal gold particles are used more and more,e.g. in a lateral flow dipstick immunoassay. When applied to the detection of aflatoxin B1 in pig feed a cut-off value of 5 μg/kg could be reached with no false negative results and a false positive rate of only 10%. Sample pretreatment for screening techniques should be rapid and simple. Preferably a simple solvent extraction is used, followed by a filtration and dilution step. However, for strongly coloured or complex food matrices, this did not seem to work. The combination of clean-up and detection in one single test device is a new approach. When using this clean-up tandem assay column for the detection of ochratoxin A in roasted coffee, a cut-off value of 6 μg/kg was reached. No false positive results were obtained, however, the false negative rate was 8%.

As the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) can occur in roasted coffee, regulations and maximum limits are necessary. The need for simple, rapid and inexpensive detection methods which require a minimum of equipment led to the development of a clean-up tandem assay column for the detection of OTA in roasted coffee. In this study the column comprised two superposed layers: a layer capable of adsorbing at least part of the interfering fraction of the sample and a detection layer containing antibodies that were able to capture the analyte. No expensive instruments were needed as results were visually evaluated. The cut-off level, i.e. the smallest mycotoxin concentration resulting in no colour development, was 6 μg kg−1. Assay validation was performed using samples fortified with OTA. The method gave a low percentage of false negative results and no false positive results. Assay performance was evaluated by screening naturally contaminated samples using the clean-up tandem assay column. The described method offers a rapid, simple and cost-effective screening tool, contributing to more effective quality control procedures.

Gel-based and membrane-based flow-through immunoassay formats were investigated for rapid ochratoxin A (OTA) detection in red wine. The flow-through set-up consisted of an antibody containing gel or membrane placed at the bottom of a standard solid-phase extraction column (i.e. the flow-through column), combined with a clean-up column. Different clean-up methods were studied for red wine clarification and purification. The optimal method consisted of passing wine, diluted with an aqueous solution containing 1% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and 5% sodium hydrogencarbonate, through strong anion exchange (SAX) silica. An immunoassay for OTA detection in red wine was optimized and a cut-off level at 2 μg L −1 according to EU legislation was achieved with both formats. A more significant colour difference between blank and spiked samples was observed for the gel-based assay making this superior to the membrane-based assay. The proposed rapid gel-based test was compared with a standard immunoaffinity column – high-performance liquid chromatography – fluorescent detection (IAC-HPLC-FLD) method and a good correlation of the results was obtained for naturally contaminated wine samples.

Two consecutive experiments were performed to evaluate the effects on the immune response of corn cob mix (CCM) in an organic pig diet. The immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgA and IgG responses against an intramuscularly injected model antigen, bovine thyroglobulin, were used as indicator. The experiments were performed in an organic barn with nine pens of four crossbred pigs (two barrows and two sows) from 45 kg to slaughter. In the first experiment, the organic concentrate was mixed with organic CCM-silage to obtain three concentrate: CCM ratios of 100:0, 80:20 and 60:40 (w:w). In the second experiment, three concentrates were produced to obtain diets with equal nutrient levels on a dry matter basis after 0%, 20% and 40% CCM inclusion. Higher inclusion rates of CCM in the ration were accompanied by lower thyroglobulin-specific IgG responses. These effects could not be attributed to one specific component of the CCM, such as fatty acid composition, although there was a degree of correlation with lower vitamin A concentrations. Mycotoxin concentrations were absent or minimal. The study indicated that dietary ingredient composition may affect immunocompetence.