Comparison of ELISA and HPLC techniques for the analysis of carbendazim and thiabendazole residues in fruit and vegetables

Abstract

An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared with a high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for the analysis of carbendazim and thiabendazole in fruit and vegetables. The method was found to be rapid, simple and repeatable; the main disadvantages being that the ELISA used could not distinguish between carbendazim and thiabendazole and that there were matrix effects from solvents and sample extracts. Consequently, a simple screening procedure was devised for carbendazim in fruit and vegetables. Samples were extracted by maceration with methanol and analyzed using immunoassay kits. Recoveries from 100 to 123% were achieved. The screening procedure was applied to samples of fruit and vegetables over a period of 12 months and compared with conventional HPLC methodology. The correlation coefficient between the two techniques was 0.91 and the ELISA method represented a saving of 54% in time and used only 12% of the solvent used for HPLC analysis.