An enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Florida red tide brevetoxins.

A non-competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay for detection of brevetoxins in various matrices has been developed. The assay utilizes antibodies raised in a goat against brevetoxin PbTx-3-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates with specific purification of brevetoxin antibodies through protein G and brevetoxin affinity columns, and rabbit anti-goat antibodies covalently linked to horseradish peroxidase. The assay was used specifically to detect brevetoxins in both cell culture and contaminated tissues. Sensitivity of the assay is 0.04 picomolar, and toxin can be quantified from 0.04 pM to 0.4 pM brevetoxin per well in microtiter plates by comparison with standard curves.