Analytical evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for neonicotinoid dinotefuran for potential application to quick and simple screening method in rice samples

The analytical performance of a kit-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of a neonicotinoid insecticide dinotefuran residue in rice samples is addressed. The sensitivity (I50 value) was 5.4 ng/mL, with the limit of detection, 0.6 ng/mL and the dynamic range from 1.0 to 30 ng/mL. The ELISA showed substantially high specificity toward dinotefuran besides clothianidin (184%). For rice samples, dinotefuran was extracted with methanol and the extracts were directly determined with the ELISA because of no significant matrix interference. Good recoveries were observed and ranged from 92.5% to 113.2% with coefficients of variation below 10%. The results obtained with the ELISA correlated well with those by the HPLC method for rice samples (r > 0.98). These findings strongly indicate that the evaluated and validated ELISA has a potential utility in a quick, simple, and reliable residue analysis, especially a screening method before shipment contributing to food safety.