A novel fluorescence immunoassay for the quantitative detection of florfenicol in animal-derived foods based on ZnCdSe/ZnS quantum dot labelled antibody

Florfenicol (F), an antimicrobial agent exclusive to veterinary use within the chloramphenicol class, is extensively applied as a broad-spectrum remedy for animal diseases. Despite its efficacy, concerns arise over potential deleterious residues in animal-derived edibles, posing threats to human health. This study pioneers an innovative approach, introducing a quantum dot fluorescence-based immunoassay (FLISA) for the meticulous detection of F residues in animal-derived foods and feeds. This method demonstrates heightened sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/mL and a quantitative detection range of 0.6–30.4 ng/mL. Method validation, applied to diverse food sources, yields recoveries from 90.4 % to 109.7 %, featuring RSDs within 1.3 % to 8.7 %, the results showed high consistency with the national standard HPLC-MS/MS detection method. These findings underscore the method's accuracy and precision, positioning it as a promising tool for swift and reliable F residue detection, with substantial implications for fortifying food safety monitoring.