Rapid detection and quantitative estimation of type A botulinum toxin by electroimmunodiffusion

An experimental system is described for the detection and quantitative estimation of type A botulinum toxin by electroimmunodiffusion. The method is shown to be rapid, specific, and quantitative. As little as 14 mouse LD(50) per 0.1 ml of type A toxin was detected within 2 hr. When applied to experimentally contaminated foods such as canned tuna, pumpkin, spinach, green beans, and sausage, the technique detected botulinum toxin rapidly and identified it as to type and quantity. A specific rabbit type A antitoxin was produced for this in vitro system since the equine antitoxin (Center for Disease Control) tested in this experiment was found to be unsuitable.