A receptor-antibody sandwich assay for teicoplanin

We have developed a new method for quantifying teicoplanin in complex matrixes, a receptor-antibody sandwich assay (RASA). The method is based on bioselective adsorption of teicoplanin onto microtiter plates coated with albumin-epsilon-aminocaproyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine, a synthetic analog of its biological target, and reaction with anti-teicoplanin antibodies. The sandwich complexes are detected by incubation with peroxidase-labeled goat antibodies to rabbit IgGs and chromogenic reaction with o-phenylenediamine. The dose-response curve was linear for teicoplanin concentrations in the range from 0 to 0.15 mg/L. We used the assay to measure teicoplanin concentrations in various biological matrixes. Analytical recovery from serum was 99.5%, the interassay CV was 5.1%, and the detection limit was 30 micrograms/L (P less than 0.01). Mean analytical recoveries from other biological specimens were 98% from ascitic fluid, 100% from pleuric liquid, 104.8% from prostate homogenate, and 98.5% from bronchial expectorate.