We report a direct biosensor for the detection of allergy chicken ovomucoid (CHUM) based on ZnO quantum dots (QDs) and a CHUM bioconjugate. The CHUM was self-assembled onto ZnO QDs through electrostatic interaction between positively charged QDs surface and negatively charged protein. Concanavalin A was employed as a recognition element for ZnO QDs labeled CHUM. The extent detection was accomplished by square wave voltammetric (SWV) of captured QDs. The biosensor shows concentration-dependent SWV development by capturing CHOM-functionalized ZnO QDs on concanavalin A-coated chips and has a detection limit of 1 ng/mL. The proposed method makes the CHOM/ZnO QDs bioconjugate a promising biosensor for the detection of CHUM. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.