Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on December 24, 2017 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: November 11, 1989 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1989-0442.pr001
Preface IMMUNOCHEMICAL METHODS PROVIDE RAPID, sensitive, and cost effective analyses for a variety of environmental contaminants. Although many chemists recognize the potential of immunochemical methods for environmental analyses, they have not yet implemented this technology on a large scale. Concerns such as data quality, availability of specific antibodies, reagent stability, and methods evaluation must be addressed if immunochemical methods are to gain widespread acceptance and commercialization. The development of imunochemical methods is multidisciplinary, which may also impede understanding and acceptance. We hope that this book will fulfill the need for both a basic understanding of immunochemical methods and an update on important technological advances. The introductory chapter by Helen Van Vunakis of Brandeis University is an excellent overview of the use of antibodies as analytical reagents, providing thoughtful insight into exciting cutting edge research. Other researchers, in academia and the chemical industry, are currently developing new techniques for analyzing environmental contaminants. These activities need to be shared and coordinated to avoid duplication of effort. The regulatory community must be well versed in the advantages and limitations of immunochemical methods. It must also provide guidance on objectives for achieving the data quality needed to implement immunochemical methods in regulatory and monitoring programs. Thus, there is a clear need for open communication among these diverse groups to advance immunochemical methods for environmental analyses. The goal of the symposium, and the book upon which it is based, is to introduce the topic to those unfamiliar with it, facilitate dialog, and stimulate interaction. It should also provide hope to its supporters that immunochemical methods can indeed be used for environmental monitoring. To that end, the editors of this volume have focused on new methods developed in the academic community, current advances and in-house uses within the chemical industry, the anticipated guidelines for regulation and monitoring of immunoassays, and the regulatory requirements of various government agencies, as well as their coordination in establishing and maintaining guidelines for accepting immunochemical methods. Immunochemical technology is rapidly advancing in many areas: development offield-portableformats, specific antibody generation, detection systems, quality control and quality assurance measures, and new applications. It is not a panacea but should be used when deemed to provide the most appropriate analysis. ix Van Emon and Mumma; Immunochemical Methods for Environmental Analysis ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1989.
Downloaded by 80.82.77.83 on December 24, 2017 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: November 11, 1989 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1989-0442.pr001
Immunochemical technology is rapidly advancing in many areas: development offield-portableformats, specific antibody generation, detec tion systems, quality control and quality assurance measures, and new applications. It is not a panacea but should be used when deemed to pro vide the most appropriate analysis. The editors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all the authors, including Helen Van Vunakis, Bruce Hammock, keynote speaker at the symposium, the reviewers for their valuable comments, and Linda Danner (U.S. EPA) for her assistance in the preparation of this volume. We also acknowledge Ε. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, CIBA-GEIGY Agricultural Division, Hazelton Immunochemistry Division, Pierce Chem ical Company, Westinghouse Bio-Analytic Systems, and Ohmicron Cor poration for their generousfinancialassistance. J E A N E T T E M. VAN E M O N
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478 R A L P H O. M U M M A
Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 September 12, 1990
χ Van Emon and Mumma; Immunochemical Methods for Environmental Analysis ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1989.
