A novel field test strip which enables spot test for the detection and identification of pesticide in the water, milk and other food items within a few minutes
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains generally to the detection of pesticides and, more particularly, to a field test strip which enables spot test for the detection and identification of pesticide in the water, milk and other food items within a few minutes and method which are particularly suitable for detecting pesticides .
2. Related Art
Organic farming has been one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture in recent years, and many people prefer organic produce because of its superior taste and quality. Organic farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and organically grown produce contains significantly lower levels of pesticide residues than conventionally grown produce. With its more stringent growing requirements, popularity among consumers, and relatively limited availability, organic produce generally commands a higher price than conventional produce.
Organic produce is currently checked for pesticide residue by washing the produce with water and then sending a sample of the water to a laboratory for analysis. That is a time consuming and expensive process and one which is not suitable for in situ checking to see if a given load of produce has, in fact, been organically grown.

Heretofore, there have been some attempts to provide test strips ,coated with the specific chemicals ,which have sensitivity with all the three group of pesticides the strips are portable tool for checking produce for the presence of pesticide residue through simple chemical color reactions in the field and at the home. Test strips work on the basic principle of group tests and estimate the amount of preservative concentration in juice, water milk and other liquid food items outside the laboratory premises. The inventor first time introducing the novel use of chemicals and reagents for the detection of pesticide residue contents in juice, water milk and other liquid food items for screening purposes at home. The test by strip is very simple and can be used by the layman person.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a simple and swift method for the detection of pesticides in common food items without using the complex instruments.
Another object of the invention is to provide an test strip and method for the use of strip in which the strip is highly portable and handheld.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a highly portable, handheld strip which can be pointed at the produce to be checked,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Pesticide contamination of water, milk juice and other foods is a subject of national importance. The contamination of pesticides is common in the agricultural areas where pesticides are most often used, as about 95 percent of that population relies upon ground water for drinking water. The need of rapid simple and economic detection techniques is needed in present scenario.
Pesticide contamination of ground water is a subject of national importance because ground water is used for drinking water by about 50 percent of the Nation's population. This especially concerns people living in the agricultural areas where pesticides are most often used, as about 95 percent of that population relies upon ground water for drinking water. Before the mid-1970s, it was thought that soil acted as a protective filter that stopped pesticides from reaching ground water. Studies have now shown that this is not the case. Pesticides can reach water-bearing aquifers below ground from applications onto crop fields, seepage of contaminated surface water, accidental spills and leaks, improper disposal, and even through injection waste material into wells.
My present invention provide the three separate test strips for the detection of all three group viz organochloro, organophosphate & carbamate pesticides in comment food items without any skilled efforts. The rapid test kit will helps in the detection of pesticide in the house hold food items. The test kit is based on the simple chemical and biochemical principle which exhibits the Color on the strip and ensure the presence or absence of pesticides.

The test strips is coated and saturated with the chemical and two enzymes. The drop of test material gives specific colour quantitatively, if any group of pesticide is present in the water, milk and other food items. The use of test kit is simple and detection time is few minutes and detection can be done in the home, fildes and office etc. Detection of organochloro, organophosphate & carbamate pesticides is swift & speedy by our novel test strips.
Examples
Example -1
We have divided the pesticides into three broad categories for speedy analysis by
group specific strip test the sensitivity of strip test is 0.05 ppm.
The test strip is based on the chemical and biochemical principle Organochloro pesticide detection strip
1. 0.5% Hydroquinone in H2S04 — wine red color increase with the intensity confirms the presence of DDT.
2. Test material residue + Isopropyl alcohol— colour (Dichloropropone absent or
present)
Example -2
Organophospho, pesticide detection strip
Test material residue (Ethenolic) + KoH -yellow colour increase with the intensity
confirms the presence of Phosphate.
This group includes Para nitrophenyal derivatives

Example -3
Carbamate pesticide detection strip
Test material residue (Ethenolic) + 1 drop Furfural + 1 drop of HCL - blue to balk colour increase with the intensity confirms the presence of Amide group.
Example -4
Biochemical principle
One side of test strip is coated with the cholinesterase enzyme and one other enzyme .The presence or absence of colour by the reaction of contaminates material and enzyme confirms the detection regarding the presence of pesticide residue on the produce. A rapid-test strip based on enzymatic inhibition mechanism has been developed at the laboratory scale for the detection of organophosphate pesticide residues in vegetables. This technology has been tested and validated by several government laboratories for its efficiency. The biomolecule (enzyme) is encapsulated in the sol-gel matrices allowing enzymatic reaction to take place. In the presence of pesticide residues in the sample, the enzyme is either partially or completely inhibited. This causes the development of yellow colour to reduce or completely stop. The enzyme assay is very rapid and it takes only 15 to 30 minutes from sampling to completion of the test. Moreover, the technology developed can be used as an onsite monitoring for pesticide residues compared to the imported technology, which requires samples to be analysed in the laboratory.

CLAMS
What is claimed is:
1. A test strip for the qualitative detection of all three group of pesticides viz organochloro, organophosphate & carbamate pesticides by three separate test strips in common food items such as milk, juice water, drinks and other beverage without any skilled efforts
2. The test strip according to claim 1 can be used for the detection of the DDT, Phosphate and amide group pesticide in milk, juice water, drinks and other beverage at home by simple drop method .
3. The test strip according to claim 2 is small and can be used anywhere for the detection of pesticide in any liquid food stuffs within few minute.
4. The test strip for the qualitative detection of other pesticide in milk, juice water, drinks and other beverage according to claim 3 comprising the three strip coated with the three solution which is common for all the pesticide in three broad groups and produces the specific color reaction in the Elevated levels of pesticides.