Relative performance of immunochemical (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and gas chromatography–electron-capture detection techniques to quantify polychlorinated biphenyls in mussel tissues

Abstract

Results from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) analyses of mussel tissue extracts by immunoassay (PCB RaPID Assay ®) and conventional gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) are described and compared. Mussels from natural populations with diverse concentrations of PCBs, mussel tissue fortified with technical Aroclor ® 1254 and a certified reference material are included. A strong correlation is reported between "total" PCBs quantified by both techniques (r 2 = 0.95, n = 27). Immunoassay results, however, exhibited lower values compared to GC-ECD, particularly when GC results are corrected for procedural recovery. A reduced antibody response, due to differences in the congener composition between the mussel extracts and Aroclor ® 1254 (used to raise and calibrate the ELISA), provides the most likely explanation for this difference. Non-parametric statistical analyses confirmed that, although differing from Aroclor ® 1254, PCB congener compositions in the mussel extracts most closely resemble that of Aroclor ® 1254. At very high PCB concentrations (>30 g g −1 dry weight), however, ELISA results are statistically different (P < 0.01) from GC-ECD results, which is likely to be related to the solvation capacity of ELISA diluent. Similarity analysis showed high correlations between the most prominent congeners in Aroclor ® 1254 and immunoassay results. This analysis did not, however, identify a specific chlorine substitution pattern to which the immunoassay preferentially responded. Whilst GC-ECD affords the capability to quantify individual congeners of different reactivity and toxicity, the data reported do indicate that immunoassay offers a rapid and inexpensive alternative method for estimation of "total" PCBs at environmentally significant levels. It is, however, necessary to remove extraneous lipids to reduce matrix effects in the immunoassay.

Immunoanalysis Methods for the Detection of Dioxins and Related Chemicals

“…The ELISA results correlated well with TEQ concentrations for dioxin-like PCBs obtained by HRGC/HRMS (r = 0.92, n = 26). Invertebrate animals such as mussels exposed to PCBs were also studied by Fillmann et al [72]. The samples were Soxhlet extracted in hexane-dichloromethane (1:1), and the extracts were then concentrated to a few mL using rotary evaporation followed by pure nitrogen “blow down” The ELISA results indicated that it was a rapid and efficient extraction for detecting total PCBs in mussels.…”

“…However, the procedure for their production is very complicated and requires highly specialized bioengineering techniques. The main advantage of recombinant monoclonal antibodies for ELISA analysis is its high tolerance towards solvents such as methanol and DMSO, alleviating the usual problem of having to greatly dilute the samples before assay [72,110]. Although some studies reported that ELISA system for coplanar PCBs were tolerant to organic solvents such as 5% of methanol and 1.3% of DMSO [89,90], these tolerances still decreased sensitivity for PCBs with standard antibodies.…”

Electron‐microscopic localization of lipophilic chemicals by an antibody‐based detection system using the blue mussel Mytilus edulis as a model system

“…A new field of research is the detection of toxic substances and pharmaceuticals with immunohistochemical approaches. Antibodies against chemicals have already been successfully applied in immunoassays to detect pollutants in environmental samples, such as soil, sediments, and water [5,[12][13][14][15][16]. In biota, antibodies against PCBs have been successfully applied in damselfish embryos and in clams from contaminated sites at the light-microscopic level [5,14].…”

Validation of immunoassay methods to determine hydrocarbon contamination in estuarine sediments

“…However, immunoassay techniques have been directed towards measuring environmental contaminants. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The most common format used for 775 Fillmann et al Vol. 18, No.…”

“…4, 2007 environmental analyses is the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). 1,11 This has proven to be rapid and cost effective 6,12,13 and can usefully complement ecotoxicological methods in environmental assessments. 14 Immunoassay-based analytical methods are rapidly gaining acceptance.…”