Evaluation of Two Field Screening Test Kits for the Detection of PCBs in Soil by Immunoassay

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Abstract
Effective field screening methods could minimize the time and reduce the cost of characterizing and remediating hazardous waste sites. Rigorous evaluation of novel field screening methods is required before they can be considered as replacements for, or adjuncts to, currently used laboratory methods. Alternatives to standard laboratory analytical methods should be rapid, analyte-specific, cost-effective, accurate, and sensitive in the range at which the analyte is regulated. In this study, 2 immunoassay- based field test kits for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil were evaluated with reference to those criteria. PCBs were analyzed in both spiked and field soil samples. Based on laboratory performance, we estimate that 20 to 40 samples can be analyzed in the field per day. Sensitivity of the assay is in the 1 ppm range. Because the assay is based on the specificity of the antigen/antibody reaction, interferences are practically negligible. The method is accurate; the false-negative and false-positive results that were observed can be explained by differences in the immunoreactivities of the Aroclors present in the test samples and the Aroclors used as standards in the assay. The savings in time and expense to analyze PCBs in soil with the immunoassay-based test kits over conventional laboratory methods should be substantial.

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