Detection of mercuric ions in water by ELISA with a mercury-specific antibody.
An immunoassay that detects mercuric ions in water at concentrations of 0.5 ppb and above is described. The assay utilizes a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to mercuric ions immobilized in wells of microtiter plates. Within the range of 0.5-10 ppb mercury, the absorbance in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is linear to the log of the mercuric ion concentration. The quantitation of mercury by ELISA correlates closely with results from cold-vapor atomic absorption. Other divalent metal cations do not interfere with the assay, although there is interference in the presence of 1 mM chloride ions. The optimum pH for mercury detection is 7.0, although 2 ppb mercury can be detected over a wide pH range. The assay is as sensitive as cold-vapor atomic absorption for mercury detection and can be performed with only 100 microliters of sample.
Wylie
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DE
BioNebraska, Inc., Lincoln 68504.
Carlson
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LD
Carlson
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R
Wagner
F W
FW
Schuster
S M
SM
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D002712:Chlorides; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002712:Chlorides; D014867:Water; D008628:Mercury