Comparison of an ELISA and a HPLC for determination of ciprofloxacin residues in pork

To determine ciprofloxacin (CPFX) residues in pork, an ELISA and a high-per formance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure were developed and compared on sensitivity, precision and accuracy. For ELISA, CPFX was converted by a n active ester method into CFPX-human serum albumin (CPFX-HSA) and CFPX-bov ine serum albumin (CPFX-BSA), and the latter allowed the production of CPFX -specific rabbit antisera for the development of an indirect competitive EL ISA procedure. For HPLC, an ODS reverse phase column was used with ultravio let detection, and triethylamine and acetonitrile (87:13) were employed as mobile phase. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.32 ng ml(-1) for ELISA and 10 ng ml(-1) for HPLC. The linear detection ranges were 0.32-5000 ng ml (-1) for ELISA and 10-5120 ng ml(-1) for HPLC The coefficients of variation were 4.51-11.50% for ELISA and 0.70-9.10% for HPLC over the range of CPFX concentrations of each method. The mean recovery of HPLC (80.58%) was highe r than that of ELISA (66.18%). The results suggested that the ELISA, with i ts high detection throughput and excellent sensitivity and specificity, cou ld be used as a screening method for CPFX residues in pork. The HPLC, for i ts great precision and accuracy, was an effective confirmatory method for C PFX residues in pork.