Pesticide immunoassays, steps development

The steps involved in the development of pesticide immunoassays have been described previously (14) and numerous reports of pesticide immunoassay development now illustrate this process (3,10,12,15,19,32,35,36,38). These steps will be reiterated here to reinforce salient points and to emphasize the distinction between the development and implementation of immunoassays. 

Generation of Antibodies. Because of their small molecular weight, pesticides such as alachlor are not generally immunogenic (4)- A key step in immunoassay development therefore involves the covalent conjugation of the pesticide or an appropriate analogue to a carrier protein ( ). In considering various... 

Immunochemical methods for low molecular weight (<1000 D) environmental compounds, such as pesticides, nitro aromatics, and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) have been developed since more than 25 years (e.g. Hammock and Mumma, 1980 Hammock et al., 1990 Dankwardt, 2000). The most common method is the immunoassay, which is either carried out with (heterogeneous) or without (homogenous) separation steps. Heterogeneous formats that use microtitre plates, plastic tubes and/or membranes as solid supports are more commonly used. 

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