DETECTION OF CARBOFURAN AND OTHER CARBAMATES USING CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION WITH N-METHYLINDOXYL ACETATE AS SUBSTRATE

A screening test was developed to detect trace amounts of carbamate insecticide residues in water and in aqueous extracts of meat. This test considers multiple insecticides with the common ability to inhibit cholinesterase. Assay solutions containing inhibitory insecticides remain colorless upon addition of substrate, while negatives and negative controls exhibit both fluorescence and a yellow color, followed by the formation of a blue precipitate that can serve as a permanent marker for assays judged negative. Phospholipids such as lecithin interfere with the test and must be removed before assay.