title: New developments in immunochemical water analysis down to 30 mul sample volume.
abstract: The determination of trace levels of pesticides like atrazine in water samples of small, restricted volumes is one of the future demands of environmental analysis. In a brief review existing chromatographic and immunochemical methods for atrazine are critically discussed. Then a simple rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the tip of an inoculation needle as a solid surface is presented. The sample volume could be reduced to 30 mul. The assay had a centre of the test IC(50) of 0.12 mug l(-1) and permitted the characterisation of atrazine at levels of 0.022-2.90 mug l(-1). A first outlook for automatisation is given. The new method was compared with an ELISA using 96 well microtiter plates as a solid phase. Surface water samples with low atrazine contents were analysed to check the new method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pfeifer-Fukumura
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holthues
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumann