Research advance of time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for pesticides detection in food

Continuous improvement in food safety standards poses new challenges to the detection of pesticide residues. Recently, time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) has been widely concerned with rapid development in the detection of diverse pesticides in foods due to its simple pretreatment, convenient operation, low cost, high sensitivity, and fast analysis. The relevant publications have remarkably increased, attracting growing research interests. Thus, in this review, the general situation and main types of TRFIA were first introduced, then, the real applications of different materials-assisted TRFIA including lanthanide elements (europium, terbium, and samarium), lanthanide element-doped fluorescent microspheres and nano-beads, in combination with biotin-avidin system amplification strategies in the detection of pesticide residues in food samples, as well as their advantages, faced challenges and future prospects were discussed. This review aimed provide leading insights into the future development and wide application of TRFIA for researchers in different fields to ensure the quality and safety of foods, as well as people’s health.

A comprehensive review published in “Food & Medicine Homology” (DOI: 10.26599/FMH.2026.9420105) highlights the transformative potential of time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) as a fast, sensitive, and practical method for detecting pesticide residues in foods.

With global concerns over food safety on the rise, especially due to overuse of various pesticides in agriculture, there is an urgent need for reliable, on-site detection technologies. TRFIA combines time-resolved fluorescence measurement with immunoassay principles, using lanthanide elements, such as europium, terbium, and samarium, as fluorescent labels. This approach significantly reduces background interference, enhances detection sensitivity, and enables rapid analysis-often within minutes.

Key advantages of TRFIA include:

High sensitivity: Capable of detecting pesticide residues at trace levels, as low as 0.003 ng/mL.

Multi-target detection: Allows simultaneous screening of multiple pesticides or even different classes of other contaminants.

Portability and ease of use: Test strip formats and handheld readers facilitate on-site testing without the need for complex laboratory equipment.

Cost-effectiveness: Reduces the need for expensive instrumentation and lengthy sample preparation.

The review also discusses recent advancements in TRFIA platforms, including the use of fluorescent microspheres, nanobeads, and biotin-streptavidin signal amplification systems to further improve detection performance. Several real-world applications are highlighted, such as the detection of organophosphorus pesticides, carbamates, and fungicides in vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Despite its promise, challenges remain in areas, such as antibody stability, cross-reactivity, and the need for standardized protocols. Future developments are expected to focus on integrating smartphone-based readout systems, enhancing multi-analyte detection capabilities, and expanding the use of TRFIA in broader food safety monitoring networks.

This review not only summarizes the current state of TRFIA technology but also outlines a path forward for its implementation in ensuring food quality and safety worldwide. TRFIA represents a significant step toward accessible, efficient, and reliable pesticide monitoring-supporting both public health and sustainable agriculture.