RESUMO
To monitor seed potatoes for potato virus X, Y and PLRV, a multiplex microsphere immunoassay (MIA) was developed based on the Luminex xMAP technology, as an alternative to ELISA. The xMAP technology allowed detection of a number of antigens simultaneously whereas ELISA only allowed simplex detection of antigens. The use of paramagnetic beads in the MIA procedure allowed efficient removal of excess sample compounds and reagents. This resulted in lower background values and a higher specificity than a non-wash MIA procedure using conventional beads. In a simplex MIA detection, levels for PVY and PLRV in potato leaf extracts were 10 times lower than ELISA but for PVX 10 timers higher, whereas the specificity was similar. Results of a multiplex assay performed on viruses added to potato leaf extracts were largely similar to those of ELISA for individual viruses. Results of samples infected naturally with PVX, PVY or PLRV were comparable with ELISA.