Development of a permethrin magnetic particle-based ELISA

AGRO 153

Fernando Rubio, frubio@abraxiskits.com1, Carmen Parrotta, info@abraxiskits.com1, Lisa Kamp, info@abraxiskits.com1, Jennifer Church, info@abraxiskits.com1, and Larry H. Stanker, lstanker@pw.usda.gov2. (1) Abraxis LLC, 54 Steamwhistle Drive, Warminster, PA 18974, (2) Foodborne Contaminants Research Unit, USDA-ARS Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan St, Albany, CA 94710
Permethrin is the most widely used insecticide among the pyrethroid family. It is used in agriculture, home pest control, and in public health programs. Worldwide, the dominant use is on cotton. In the U.S., it is used on corn, wheat, and alfalfa. Permethrin has been found in streams and rivers and on produce, e.g., spinach, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and peaches. Concerns about environmental contamination have led to the need for more rapid, sensitive, and selective methods of analysis. Enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs) have proven to be rapid, sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective methods. This paper describes the development and performance of a Magnetic Particle-based ELISA for permethrin detection in water and soil samples. The assay exhibits a sensitivity of 0.5 ppb in water with an analytical range of 0.75-15 ppb. Average recoveries in water were 98% and within and between assay precision of < 10.5%. Data obtained with soils as well as comparison to instrumental analysis will also be presented.