Use of an immunomagnetic separation–fluorescent immunoassay (IMS–FIA) for rapid and high throughput analysis of environmental water samples Original Research Article

An antibody-based immunomagnetic separation (IMS) in conjunction with microplate fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) was used for rapid screening of bacteria and toxin in environmental water samples. This approach allows processing and analysis of up to 96 samples on the same microplate within 1 h of assay time. The assay sensitivities are at the level of 2×103 cells for Escherichia coli and 10 ng/ml for Staphylococcal enterotoxin B detection, respectively. This unique IMS–FIA approach is also suitable for direct crude sample processing and analysis, as well as for system automation.