Test Kit Development for Insecticides 4 Groups and Herbicide 2,4-D Analysis in Vegetable, Fruits and Cereals

Abstract

To ensure quality and safety of agricultural products that may be contaminated with chemical pesticide residues, TLC MedSci Pest kit (TM Kit), the kit for 4 groups insecticides analysis in vegetables, fruits and cereals was developed. The innovative kit used thin layer chromatography technique for pesticide identification. The colorimetric chemical reaction based on enzyme cholinesterase inhibition was used for the detection of Organophosphates and Carbamates and the reaction based on physical chemistry was used for the detection of Organochlorine, Pyrethroids and Herbicide. The test kit performance was then validated by analyzing standard - spiked samples at 7 repeated times to find their detection limit (LOD) of the analyzed 4 groups insecticides. Eleven spiked Organophosphates and Carbamates standards and seven Organochlorines, Pyrethroids and 2, 4 – D standards in vegetables showed results of their limit of detection 0.05 – 9.4 and 0.2 - 3.1 microgram per gram respectively. In order to validate the testing performance, Test kit was used for the detection pesticide residues in 51 of different types of vegetables and fruits in comparison with the conventional method which pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography techniques. The test kit performance showed the accuracy of 96.1, specificity of 97.7 and sensitivity of 85.7 percent. The kit’s shelf life was tested by storing for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and   it found to be 1 year. The test kit is a practical screening tool for users in faming site communities, food factories and field laboratories and it is useful for preventive control of pesticide health risk in agricultural raw materials and for consumer protection. This will bring their agricultural produces and products are more value added and competitive in local and worldwide markets.