A simple and rapid antibody-capture ELISA for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in food including a simple extraction step

A sensitive and precise ELISA for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in food has been developed, using specific IgG anti‐toxin antibodies purified from immunized rabbits. an antibody capture format was found to be the most useful following cross‐reaction and sensitivity studies. the ELISA was used to investigate concentration of staphylococcal enterotoxin A from food samples by polyethylene glycol dialysis. the procedure was shown to be inefficient and highly variable, as well as time‐consuming. Direct analysis of aqueous food extracts without a concentration step was found to be possible. With an assay time of 140 min, the ELISA detection limit was 12.5 pg of toxin (corresponding to a sensitivity of 0.5 ngg‐1 of food sample.