DETECTION OF 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID BY MICROTITER PARTICLE AGGLUTINATION INHIBITION TEST AND POLARIZATION FLUOROIMMUNOASSAY

A simple microtiter particle agglutination inhibition (MPAI) assay for detection of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has been developed on the basis of coloured poly-acrolein latex particles sensitized wit h monoclonal antibodies to 2,4-D. MPAI test has been applied to the qu antification of 2,4-D in water and extracts from grain and compared wi th the polarisation fluoroimmunoassay. The detection limit-of 2,4-dich lorphenoxyacetic acid in MPAI was 0.6 mu g/l which was about two order s higher than that of polarisation fluoroimmunoassay. The cross-reacti vity of various structurally related substances was less than 10.%. Go od correlation of MPAI and polarisation fluoroimmunoassay was shown wh en testing 2,4-D in the extracts from grain. MPAI assay is rapid, robu st, easy to perform, doesn't need any instrumentation and specially tr ained personnel.