Effects of methanol and temperature on enzyme immunoassay with monoclonal antibodies specific to the insecticide etofenprox

We examined the effects of methanol and temperature on the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies specific to the insecticide etofenprox. When the antigen-antibody reaction was done at 4 degrees C in 10% methanol, the sensitivity in the enzyme immunoassay with each antibody was more than 10-fold higher than that measured at 37 degrees C. Although in 10% methanol one of the antibodies reacted equally with both etofenprox and the carbonate-derivative of etofenprox, in 50%, methanol the antibody reacted with etofenprox, but not with the derivative.