The requirement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that agricultural products susceptible to aflatoxin contamination contain aflatoxin at levels < or =20 parts per billion for consumer-ready products has led to the establishment of inspection programs by various industries. In Arizona, cottonseed samples from 100 ton piles are collected by an accumulation of 3 or more probings with a pneumatic probe. When sampling compacted cottonseed piles, the large official pneumatic probe (7.6 x 127 cm) decreases in efficiency. Two smaller probes (1.9 x 127 cm and 1.9 x 254 cm ) were therefore developed and tested for their suitability for sampling cottonseed piles. Three rapid analytical methods (one thin-layer chromatographic and 2 immunochemical) were tested for suitability as on-site assay systems. An analysis of variance of the analytical test results showed no differences between the various probes tested. Of the rapid methods, however, only the AflaTest-P immunoaffinity column gave results similar to those of the official AOAC thin-layer chromatography method. In terms of safety, however, all methods prevent material contaminated above regulatory limits from reaching the consumer.