MILFORD, Mass., July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Waters Corporation WAT today announced VICAM®, a Waters® Business, launched Vertu™, a digital lateral flow reader for fast, easy, mycotoxin quantitation.  The Vertu reader provides more accessible mycotoxin testing to food and agriculture producers worldwide who rely on early detection to protect humans and animals from potentially lethal effects of contamination. The economic impact of mycotoxins is vast.  Crop losses, management, product recalls and regulatory oversight result in total costs in the billions of dollars annually to the global food supply chain.

"Regulatory levels set by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Union (EU) and other international regulatory bodies require that mycotoxin testing be performed at nearly every point of a product's handling and processing," said Marjorie Radlo, General Manager, Director of Operations, for VICAM. "The Vertu reader provides businesses dependent on rapid mycotoxin detection methods for their agricultural products confidence that their products are within regulated limits."

"The Vertu system for mycotoxin testing gives customers testing at the point of sampling exceptional value with fast, accurate numerical results using fewer solvents in less time. Simple enough to be used by field or laboratory staff, the Vertu system continues to provide accuracy and reliability that are the hallmarks of VICAM products," said Dr. Stephen Powers, Head of Research & Development for VICAM.  

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring chemical byproducts of ubiquitous mold species which are natural inhabitants of crop soils.  Severe rain or drought can encourage mycotoxin production – and, once released, mycotoxins are difficult to manage and virtually impossible to destroy.  VICAM offers detection systems for single and multiple mycotoxin quantification both onsite and in-laboratory screening. The USDA, FDA, EU and other international regulatory standards impose specific guidelines for acceptable levels for various mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A, fumonisin, zearalenone and T2/HT2.  Producers and exporters use onsite testing to ensure regulatory compliance and to protect human and animal health.  

No special training or expertise is required to operate VICAM's Vertu lateral flow reader.  Operators obtain results in part-per-billion (ppb) or part-per-million (ppm) in minutes, providing critical data for the management and control of mycotoxins.

The Vertu technology enhances VICAM's portfolio of single-use food safety tests designed to detect contaminants in ppb and meet the increasingly stringent regulatory and economic challenges confronting today's global food chain.  With a comprehensive product line evaluated and trusted by industry leaders in more than 100 countries, VICAM is the leader in rapid mycotoxin test solutions.

For more information: www.vicam.com

About VICAM, A Waters Business (www.vicam.com)

VICAM is a world-leading provider of mycotoxin testing solutions. Since 1985, VICAM has been dedicated to developing USDA- and AOAC-approved rapid tests for mycotoxins. VICAM's mycotoxin test kits offer a choice of rapid qualitative screening and quantitative test methods for a wide variety of mycotoxins.  Around the world, VICAM products are used with confidence by customers who trust our commitment to extending the value of those products with unmatched service and support. We guarantee satisfaction with expert technical assistance and top-of-the-line customer care through a global scientific and distribution network that develops, markets, sells, and services our products in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.vicam.com or call +1.508.482.4935.

About Waters Corporation (www.waters.com)

For over 50 years, Waters Corporation WAT has created business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations by delivering practical and sustainable innovation to enable significant advancements in such areas as healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality worldwide.

Pioneering a connected portfolio of separations science, laboratory information management, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis, Waters technology breakthroughs and laboratory solutions provide an enduring platform for customer success.

With revenue of $1.64 billion in 2010 and 5,400 employees, Waters is driving scientific discovery and operational excellence for customers worldwide.

Waters, VICAM and Vertu are trademarks of Waters Corporation.

SOURCE Waters Corporation