Abstract:A rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection method for tetracycline (TC) antibiotic residues in food was developed. Shared structural characteristics of TC antibiotics were exploited for the preparation of a broad-spectrum TC-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb), and a colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic assay (GICA) was established for rapid detection of TC antibiotic residues in food. Through hapten design, mAb preparation, and optimization of key GICA parameters, such as the antibody labeling and artificial antigen coating concentrations, rapid TC antibiotic residue detection in food was achieved. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the broad-spectrum mAb towards TC, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline were 1.29, 1.04, 1.34, and 2.33 μg•L-1, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection of GICA was 20 μg•kg-1 for TC, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline and 40 μg•kg-1 for doxycycline, with a reaction time of approximately 15 min. Therefore, the GICA developed in this study achieved highly sensitive, accurate, and rapid detection, making it suitable for rapid batch screening of TC antibiotic residues in animal food products, such as chicken, pork, and grass carp. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and effective technical support for future research on broad-spectrum mAbs against TC antibiotics and the detection of TC antibiotic residues in food.