Fluorescence polarization immunoassay based on a monoclonal antibody for the detection of the organophosphorus pesticide parathion-methyl.

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) based on a monoclonal antibody for the detection of parathion-methyl (PM) was developed and optimized. Fluorescein-labeled PM derivatives (tracers) with different structures were synthesized and purified by thin-layer chromatography. The influence of immunogen and tracer structures on the assay characteristics was investigated. PM concentration determinable by the FPIA ranged from 25 to 10000 ppb. The detection limit was 15 ppb. Methanol extracts of vegetable, fruit, and soil samples were diluted 1/10 for the analysis. Recovery in spiked samples averaged between 85 and 110%. The method developed is characterized by high specificity and reproducibility (CV ranged from 1.5 to 9.1% for interassay and from 1.8 to 14.1% for intra-assay). The FPIA method can be applied to the screening of food and environmental samples for PM residues without complicated cleanup.