4.6.2. Method Detection and Reporting Limit

Method detection limit (MDL) refers to the lowest concentration of the analyte that a method can detect reliably. To determine the MDL, 7 corn matrix blank samples were spiked at a different concentration for each analyte and processed through the entire method along with blank. The standard deviation derived from the spiked sample recoveries was used to calculate the MDL using this equation:

 $\text{MDL} = \text{tS } (\text{ $n=7$ } \text{ replicates} , \text{t}=\text{3.143})$ 

Reporting limit refers to a level at which reliable quantitative results may be obtained. The MDL is used as a guide to determine the RL. The RL is the two times the MDL in this work. The calculated MDL and RL for all mycotoxins are shown in Table 4.


**Table 4.** MDL Study for Mycotoxins in Corn (*n* = 7).

SD: Standard Deviation, MDL: Method Detection Limit and RL: Reporting Limit.
