A rapid fluorescence ELISA for ceftazidime

Abstract

A simple and rapid ELISA with a fluorescent end-point has been developed for the measurement of the cephalosporin antibiotic, ceftazidime. The ELISA can be applied to the analysis of the drug in solutions that have been eluted from filters following the capture of air samples in the workplace and in biological fluids. The assay has good precision and shows insignificant interference from a range of other cephalosporins and penicillins. A comparison has been made between this assay and a similar ELISA method using spectrophotometric detection. The use of fluorescence detection improves the limit of detection from 3.5 × 10^–9 mol dm^–3 to 6.5 × 10^–10 mol dm^–3, and reduces the overall assay time from 45 to 25 min. The current method of choice is HPLC, which is slow and insensitive in comparison with the assay described.