Detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene in environmental samples using a homogeneous fluoroimmunoassay.
We have tested both soil and water environmental samples for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using a simple homogeneous assay. This assay is based on changes in fluorescence emission intensity when a fluorescently labeled TNT analogue, bound to an anti-TNT antibody, is competitively displaced by TNT. Fluoroimmunoassay results for TNT concentrations in diluted acetone extracts prepared from archived soils were in good agreement with the results from high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the same sample extracts. In addition, assays of TNT-spiked environmental well water gave results essentially identical with assays conducted in a TNT-spiked laboratory buffer. The homogeneous fluoroimmunoassay, which is rapid, simple, sensitive, and amenable to high throughput screening, shows promise for near real-time evaluation of TNT contamination in environmental samples.
Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA. erg@cbmse.nrl.navy.mil
Ellen R
ER
Goldman
Tiffany J
TJ
Cohill
Charles H
CH
Patterson
George P
GP
Anderson
Anne W
AW
Kusterbeck
J Matthew
JM
Mauro
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D015200:Fluoroimmunoassay / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000032:analysis*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants; D014303:Trinitrotoluene