Immunoassay for food quality evaluation

Abstract Developing immunoassays for detecting natural and synthetic contaminants in foods and environments have received great attention. Immunoassay technology has several attributes that make it a useful tool for screening purposes (e.g., selectivity, sensitivity, portability, and rapid turnaround time). The last two decades have witnessed striking advances in immunoassays (IAs), thanks to innovation and developments in antibody immobilization strategies, rapid diagnostic platforms, novel IA formats, new biosensing concepts, portable detectors, and complementary technologies. These advances have led to the emergence of a wide range of IAs for food analysis applications. Thus, a general description of what IA is, how it works, and what material and key components are required will be given, paying special attention to its performance, advantages, and drawbacks. Finally, the main applications in foods, challenges, and prospects are discussed.