On-line detection of sulfamethazine and sulfadiazine in porcine bile using a multi-channel high-throughput SPR biosensor

The performance of a prototype multi-channel optical biosensor in both the laboratory and on site at an abattoir was evaluated. The high-throughput surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument allows either simultaneous analysis of eight samples for a single analyte or multi-analdyte analysis. In conjunction with an automated sample pipetting station, direct analysis of up to 650 bile samples for sulfamethazine (SMZ) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) per day was possible. Instrument performance was assessed in a laboratory based trial by comparing results of the prototype assay method with the routine Biacore 1000 procedure used in the laboratory. During the assay of 1751 samples, false positive rates were calculated as 0.86% for SMZ and 1.48% for SDZ using the prototype biosensor as compared to 0.63% (SMZ) and 0.69% (SDZ) when using the Biacore 1000 instrument. During a 2-month on-site study at an abattoir, a total of 6069 bile samples were analysed. No false negative results were recorded while extremely low false positive rates (0.13% for SMZ and 0.74% for SDZ) were found. The present study clearly demonstrates the potential of high-speed SPR biosensor technology for high-throughput veterinary drug detection. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.