Quantum Dot Submicrobead-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for the Determination of Parathion in Agricultural Products

Due to high toxicity to mammals and hazard to the ecosystem, parathion has been banned or limited for use in many countries. It is essential to ensure food safety by parathion suspecting. On-site testing, as a critical component of the food chain safe system, plays a major role in the protection of food safety and human health. In this study, based on monoclonal antibody (Mab), a rapid and sensitive quantum dot submicrobead-based immunochromatographic assay (QB-ICA) was developed for the on-site determination of parathion in agricultural products. The established QB-ICA exhibited good linearity over the range of parathion from 0.7 to 13.0 ng mL(-1), with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.48 ng mL(-1)and visual detection limits of 6.25 ng mL(-1). The testing process could be accomplished within 15 min, and no cross-reactivities with other organophosphorus pesticides were observed. Three kinds of agricultural products (rice, vegetable, and apple) were spiked and analyzed via QB-ICA for method validation; meanwhile, the comparison was conducted between QB-ICA and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that the recovery ranged from 85.23 to 111.4%, with the coefficient of variations (CV) less than 11%, suggesting that the developed QB-ICA is practical and reliable for use. This study provides an alternative approach for on-site detection of parathion, which shows great promise to be further used in the surveillance of food and the environment.