DETERMINATION OF TRIAZINE HERBICIDES WITH TIME-RESOLVED FLUOROIMMUNOASSAY USING EUROPIUM(III)-CHELATES

The use of Eu(III)-chelates as labels in fluoroimmunoassays for hapten s is demonstrated. Previously mainly applied in clinical diagnostics, they have successfully been used for the determination of triazine her bicides in waters. The detection limit obtained was 0.05 mug/l for ter butryn and 0.1 mug/l for atrazine in the most sensitive assay formats of those tested. Monoclonal antibodes have been used in a competitive type immunoassay with a modified hapten coated onto microtiter strips, performing fluorescence detection with a conventional time-resolved f luorometer. Results of competitive assays and replacement assays have been compared. Due to the antibodies' high cross-reactivity the assay is useful for the determination of the whole triazine group while show ing no interferences with other herbicides.