A review of promising new immunoassay technology for monitoring forest herbicides

Abstract

Rising costs of classical instrumental methods of chemical analysis coupled with an increasing need for environmental monitoring has lead to the development of highly sensitive, low-cost immunochemical methods of analysis for the detection of environmental contaminants. These methods known simply as immunoassays are chemical assays which use antibodies as reagents. A target compound (such as a pesticide) is detected by an antibody which binds only to that substance. The binding efficiency can be designed to permit measurements down below the picogram (lo-l2 gram) level. Some of the assays can be performed in a complex sample matrix with little or no sample preparation. The technique allows for a rapid analysis at a relatively low cost ($5-10 per sample) compared to classical chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques ($40=200/sample). Allied instrumentation such as low- cost photometers as well as the associated training of technical staff is much less complex and costly than classical techniques.

Citation

McMahon, Charles K. 1993. A review of promising new immunoassay technology for monitoring forest herbicides. In: Proceedings of the 46th Annual Meeting Southern Weed Science Society; 1993 January 18-20; Charlotte, NC. [Champaign, IL]: Southern Weed Science Society: 220-222.