Radioimmunoassay for zearalenone and zearalanol in human serum: production, properties, and use of porcine antibodies

To produce antigens susceptible to raise antibodies for resorcylic acid lactones, the 6'-carboxymethyloxime derivatives of zearalenone and zearalanone were bound to bovine serum albumin. Pigs could be immunized by using these antigens, the best titer in antibodies being obtained with the zearalenone antigen. The porcine antibodies were specific for the resorcylic acid lactones of structural resemblance with zearalenone. This specificity made the antibodies usable for a radioimmunoassay of zearalenone and zearalanol, which may be found in human and animal sera. The range of the assay was between 0.25 and 10 ng. The limit of detection was 5 ppb (5 ng/ml) in human serum.