Immunoassays (ELISA) for rapid, quantitative analysis in the food-processing industry

An indirect, competitive-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is shown to have sufficient accuracy, precision, and sensitivity for application to total residue determinations for spectinomycin-related residues in food animal tissues. Assay optimization established the linear dynamic range, sensitivity, and method detection limits. Control tissue extracts were assayed for the presence of either positive or negative interferences. Interferences arising from cross-reactivity with other antibiotics or therapeutic agents likely to be present were evaluated. Recovery and precision from fortified tissue samples as well as measurement of operator bias from the analysis of samples with biologically incurred residues were determined. Equivalency of the ELISA method with standard radiotracer methods of analysis is demonstrated herein. Delivered in the microtiter format and using fully automated sample processing systems, immunoassays, as described, can be used for ''real-time'' quality control analysis in the food-processing industry.