A new monoclonal antibody for the sensitive detection of cyanazine and other s-triazines in water by ELISA

A new monoclonal antibody with specificity for s-triazine herbicides was pr epared using a tertbutyl-s-triazine hapten. An assay was developed, employi ng covalently immobilized hapten and monoclonal antibody labeled with horse radish peroxidase. This assay system had a detection limit of 0.01 mu gl(-1 ) cyanazine, with a coefficient of variation less than 3%. Analysis on thre e different spiked water types showed an average recovery of 101% at 0.1 mu gl(-1) cyanazine. Cross-reactions were found for atrazine, terbuthylazine and propazine in the range 18-62%. This immunoassay is therefore capable of detecting four different s-triazine herbicides at concentrations well belo w the limit value for drinking water of 0.1 mu gl(-1) stipulated by the EEC Council Directive on drinking water.