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Melamine

The Harm Caused by Melamine-Contaminated Food

The Harm Caused by Melamine-Contaminated Food Fig. 1 The chemical structure of Melamine

Melamine is a triazine nitrogen-containing heterocyclic organic compound. It is often used in chemical production. It is the main raw material for the manufacture of melamine-formaldehyde resin. It can also be used as an organic element analysis reagent. The main raw materials for the production of melamine are dicyandiamide and urea. Melamine itself is of low toxicity, but when used with cyanuric acid, it will form insoluble melamine cyanurate, causing serious kidney stones. It has been reported that during the digestion process of the human body, especially under the action of gastric acid, melamine itself may be partially converted into cyanuric acid and crystallized with the unconverted part. In 2007, the US pet food melamine contamination incident caused a large number of poisoned pets to die due to renal failure. In 2008, the melamine contamination of dairy products in China caused baby deformities and urinary system diseases.

The Necessity of Monitoring the Contamination of Melamine in Food by ELISA

Melamine is a chemical raw material and is not allowed to be used in food processing or food additives. However, some unscrupulous merchants mix melamine into dairy products to increase the nitrogen content level during protein content testing. China's dairy industry has suffered heavy losses due to the detection of a large amount of excessive melamine in products represented by Sanlu milk powder. Studies have shown that long-term intake of melamine may cause damage to reproductive capacity, bladder or kidney stones, and bladder cancer. The Codex Alimentarius Commission stipulates that the content of melamine per kilogram of liquid milk shall not exceed 0.15 mg. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has listed melamine as a 2B carcinogen. Melamine contamination of food is a food safety issue of concern all over the world, and it is necessary to monitor it. As a fast and sensitive detection method, ELISA is one of the best methods for monitoring melamine in food.

ELISA Types

Indirect competitive ELISA

The Advantages of ELISA Testing

Can effectively quantitatively detect melamine in food
Can detect melamine with high sensitivity and specificity
Can prevent melamine-contaminated food from being accidentally eaten

ELISA Procedure for Melamine Testing

The microplates were coated with 100 μL/well of MEL-BSA solution (dissolved in coating buffer) at 4°C overnight.

After washing twice with 280 μL/well of washing buffer, then blocked with 200 μL/well of blocking buffer at 37°C for 2 h.

After washing again, 50 μL of a series of diluted analyte solutions (MEL standard solution or MEL containing food samples) were added, then MEL MAbs solution (50 μL) was added, incubation at 37°C for 30 min.

After washing, 100 μL/well of goat anti-mouse HRP was added, incubated at 37°C for 1 h. Then substrate solution was added, incubated at 37°C for 30 min.

Terminated by the addition of stopping solution, the absorbance was measured at 450 nm by microplate reader.

Creative Diagnostics has been committed to hazardous substances testing by ELISA. We provide reliable ELISA kits for the detection of melamine. Supported by rich professional knowledge, we provide high-quality customized ELISA kits services, professional ELISA testing services, and believable ELISA development services related to melamine. If you wish a lot of careful data, please contact us.

Reference

Yin, W.; et al. Preparation of monoclonal antibody for melamine and development of an indirect competitive ELISA for melamine detection in raw milk, milk powder, and animal feeds. J Agric Food Chem. 2010, 58(14): 8152-8157.

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