Immunoassay for polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract

A method for determining qualitatively or quantitatively the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl in a test sample. The method includes the steps of: providing a known quantity of antibodies to polychlorinated biphenyl; providing a competitor that will bind to said antibodies in competition with polychlorinated biphenyl and having a lower affinity to said antibodies than said antibodies have to polychlorinated biphenyl; incubating said antibodies and said competitor in the presence of a test sample; and detecting the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl in the test sample. The competitor used in this method has one of the following structures: ##STR1## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of --NH--, --S--, --O--, --CH.sub.2 --, --NH--C(O)--, --C(O)--NH--, --NH--C(O)--NH--, --NH--C(S)--NH--, --N(CH.sub.3)--, --N(CH.sub.3).sub.2 --, and --O--C(S)--NH--; B is preferably a single bond or an organic or inorganic group; C is selected from the group consisting of --CO.sub.2 H, --NH.sub.2, --CHO, and --OH; Y and Y' are selected from the group consisting of --H and --C1; n=0-5; p=0-3; and q=0-4.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.