DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELISA FOR 2,4-D - CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 POLYCLONAL ANTISERA

A direct competitive ELISA for the detection of the herbicide 2,4-D (2 ,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) has been developed. The optimization, e valuation and characterization of the ELISA, with two different antise ra, has been carried out. The detection limit of 2,4-D with antiserum 7/89 was 20 ng/l and a center point value of 0.6 mu g/l 2,4-D. Antiser um 16/88 showed a detection limit of 0.3 mu g/l with a center point va lue of 4 mu g/l. The cross reactivity both at the center point and at the detection limit for five structural related phenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides has been determined. The influence of increasing concentra tions of humic acid, solvents and surfactants on the ELISA has been in vestigated, leading to a deterioration of detection limits and center points.