DEVELOPMENT OF A POLARIZATION FLUOROIMMUNOASSAY FOR SULFAMETHAZINE USING AN AUTOMATED ANALYZER

A rapid, non-isotopic, polarization fluoroimmunoassay for the antibiot ic sulfamethazine has been developed. The influence of the structure o f fluorescein-labelled tracers on the sensitivity of the assay was inv estigated. Reagents were adapted for use with the Abbott TDx Analyzer and existing software was adapted for automated analyses. Total time f or the assay of 1 and 20 samples was 14 and 22 min, respectively. All analytical criteria for the assay were satisfied. The detection limit for sulfamethazine in 20 mu l of aqueous sample was 10 ng ml(-1) (200 pg), which compares well with the sensitivity of enzyme linked immunos orbent assay methods.