Solid-phase chemiluminescence immunoassay for screening of anabolic agents in application sites in slaughtered cattle

A solid-phase chemiluminescence immunoassay for 19-nortestosterone (NT) is presented; NT-3-carboxymethyloxime/N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol serves as the label with an antiserum raised against NT-3-carboxymethyloxime/bovine serum albumin. Some other anabolic compounds (e.g., testosterone and trenbolone) showed substantial cross-reactivity. The assay can be used generally for the detection of anabolic agents in application sites. Because of the high sensitivity (0.1 pg NT/tube at 90% relative binding), only 250 μg of muscle tissue is needed for the assay. Apparent NT contents of 0.4 to 16 000 μg kg^?1 tissue can be measured. With a simplified isolation method, about 40 samples can be screened in a working day.