An immunoassay for monitoring human exposure to ethylene oxide
Wraith, M.J.; Watson, W.P.; Eadsforth, C.V.; van Sittert, N.J.; Törnqvist, M.; Wright, A.S.
Iarc Scientific Publications 89: 271-274
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5038 PMID: 3198209 Document Number: 312131
A novel immunochemical approach has been developed to monitor human exposures to ethylene oxide (EO). The method exploits the interaction of EO with the amino function of the N-terminal valine residue of the alpha-chain of human haemoglobin (Hb). Antibodies were raised against the adducted valine in the form of the N-terminal tryptic heptapeptide and have been used to develop a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the adducted heptapeptide. This method has been fully validated against a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method and has been applied to the monitoring of EO exposure in a group of sterilization workers.