A SIMPLE AND RAPID ANTIBODY-CAPTURE ELISA FOR THE DETECTION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL-ENTEROTOXIN-A IN FOOD INCLUDING A SIMPLE EXTRACTION STEP

A sensitive and precise ELISA for the detection of staphylococcal ente rotoxin A in food has been developed, using specific IgG anti-toxin an tibodies purified from immunized rabbits. An antibody capture format w as found to be the most useful following cross-reaction and sensitivit y studies. The ELISA was used to investigate concentration of staphylo coccal enterotoxin A from food samples by polyethylene glycol dialysis . The procedure was shown to be inefficient and highly variable, as we ll as time-consuming. Direct analysis of aqueous food extracts without a concentration step was found to be possible. With an assay time of 140 min, the ELISA detection limit was 12.5 pg of toxin (corresponding to a sensitivity of 0.5 ng g(-1) of food sample).