Biosensor immunoassay of ivermectin in bovine milk

A rapid and sensitive biosensor immunoassay was developed for determination of ivermectin residues in bovine milk. A detection limit of 16.2 ng/mL was achieved. A Biacore optical biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance was used, and a range of extraction techniques was investigated. In the final assay procedure, ivermectin was extracted with acetonitrile followed by C8 solid-phase extraction cleanup. It was proven experimentally that 2 methods of milk storage, freezing or addition of mercury-containing compounds as preservatives, could be used without considerable change in detected concentrations (samples were fortified with ivermectin after storage). The average values for milk samples spiked at 100 and 50 ng/mL concentrations were 102.6 and 51.5 ng/mL, respectively. Extraction and analysis of 20 milk samples were performed within a single working day.