Sterigmatocystin is classified under the mycotoxin family of compounds. It is usually produced by the fungi of several species of Aspergillus.

Sterigmatocystin may be used as an analytical reference standard for the determination of the analyte in, Grain samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray positive ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI⁺ MS/MS). Beer samples by HPLC in conjunction with UV detection