Modern immunoassays in meat-product analysis

The increased regulation of foodstuffs in modern society requires analytical methods which are easy to perform, sensitive, specific and relatively inexpensive. The basic antigen-antibody reaction provides means for very specific analytical procedures. Immunoassays are powerful analytical tools that permit the specific and rapid detection or measurement of antigens and haptens to which antibodies can be produced. Sensitive recognition of the interaction is made possible by labelling the analyte or antibody, mainly with radioisotope (RIA) and enzyme (ELISA). Wide applications of these modern immunoassays to food analysis began about 1980. The paper reviews investigations, where various types of RIA and ELISA were developed for the use in meat product analysis. Detection and determination of various meat species, non-meat proteins, microorganisms and bacterial toxins, drugs, anabolic hormones, pesticides, mycotoxins, and other contaminants in meat and meat products by the means of immunoassays is described. Now, the commercial kits are available for most of these compounds. They make possible to perform analysis in different laboratories under standard conditions. The reason of an enthusiasmic acceptance of this technology is related to its inherent specificity, high sensitivity, and the facility of application. In fact, immunoassays compete with other analytical technics. They have the advantage of economy when screening large numbers of samples.