Detection and identification of animal and food pathogens using time-resolved fluorescence

Time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays using dissociation enhanced lanthanide fluorescence have been developed for detection and identification of animal and food pathogens including Clostridium botulinum toxins A and B, Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB), Bacillus anthracis, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter. Both double antibody sandwich immunoassays and microwell filterplate assay; have been developed using polyclonal, monoclonal and phage display antibodies labeled with fluorescent europium or samarium lanthanide chelates. Multiplexed dual label europium and samarium assays have been performed for Salmonella simultaneously with E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Listeria. Results from different laboratories are presented to demonstrate that these time-resolved fluorescent immunoassays have high sensitivity and specificity with excellent reproducibility.