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Final Decision to Certify Hazardous Waste Environmental Technology PCP RaPID Assay® (Pentachlorophenol in Water and Soil) Certification No: 95-01-010 Technology Description: The Ohmicron RaPID Assay® System for pentachlorophenol (PCP) uses enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. It differs from other systems in that polyclonal antibodies are supplied attached to magnetic particles. PCP in water is assayed directly; for soils, the system uses extraction with alkaline methanol. The immunoassay system is semi-quantitative. Provided that the materials are used properly, detection is possible at 0.06 to 10 ppb in water and 0.1 to 10 ppm in soil; ranges can be extended upward by dilution of the extracts. Quantitative readings about a selected target level are obtained in a microprocessor-equipped, hand-held, battery- operated photometer or a compact table top photometer supplied by the manufacturer, or a standard laboratory photometer. The calibration is not biased, but the user is instructed to select target levels so as to determine the degree of confidence in avoiding false negative results. The reaction with other chlorophenols is insignificant except for 2,3,5,6- and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol and some trichlorophenols (some of these are contaminants in technical grade PCP). Creosote may interfere at levels over 100 ppm; diesel fuel and other solvents for PCP may interfere when present at levels of 2 to 10 percent. Differences in the extraction efficiency of PCP from various soils may cause positive or negative errors in the immunoassay results. Users should evaluate these factors before attempting to quantify results. The DTSC's findings are described in greater detail in an evaluation report.
A copy of the published Certification Notice may be obtained by contacting us at:
File last updated: October 9, 1996 |