Monoclonal antibodies against lead were generated by immunizing BALB/c mice with lead conjugatedto keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via a bifunctional chelator,
S-2-(4-aminobenzyl)diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Stable hybridoma cell lines were produced by fusion of murine splenocytesand SP2/0 myeloma cells. One of the hybridomas generated from this fusion (4/7) synthesized andsecreted an antibody that bound tightly to Pb
2+-DTPA complexes but not to metal-free DTPA. Theperformance for a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) incorporatingthis antibody was assessed for its sensitivity to changes in pH, ionic strength, and blocking reagents.The cross-reactivities in this ELISA were less than 3% for Fe
3+, Cd
2+, Hg
2+, and Cu
2+ and less than0.3% for Cr
3+, Mn
2+, Mg
2+, In
3+, Ag
1+, Ni
2+, Co
2+, Zn
2+, Ca
2+, Cu
1+, and Hg
1+. The IC
50 value achievedfor lead was 2.72 ± 0.034
M, showing the detection range of 0.092-87.2
M and the lowest detectionlimit of 0.056 ± 0.005
M. Recoveries from the analyte-fortified tap water and ultrapure water werein the range of 80-114% . These results indicate that the ELISA could be a convenient analyticaltool for monitoring lead residues in drinking water.