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<p>This involved separation of regulated toxins from complex shellfish extracts coupled to instrumentation for their detection and quantitation.</p>
<p>Toxins were extracted from shellfish flesh using a method published by the EU Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins. A published liquid chromatographic (LC) method was then refined in order to separate 12 EU regulated lipophilic toxins including okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxins (DTX), pectenotoxins (PTX), azaspiracids (AZA) and yessotoxins (YTX) within 23 minutes of analysis. Identification was then confirmed by (tandem) mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection based on recording ‘fingerprint’ ions specific to each toxin compound. Following international protocols, the performance of the method was established and described after validation and application in EU-wide, inter-laboratory studies.</p>
<p>Background: During periods of cultivation, edible shellfish may become contaminated by naturally occurring toxins derived from certain marine algae. One family of these chemicals is the fat-soluble (lipophilic) toxins. Some lipophilic toxins cause severe gastrointestinal disorders in humans following consumption of shellfish contaminated above regulated levels. To protect the consumer, shellfish monitoring programmes are in place in the United Kingdom to determine the extent of toxicity. Historically, measuring toxicity has been undertaken by a qualitative and non-specific animal test. To reduce reliance on animal tests and to improve risk management of contaminated shellfish, a chemical/analytical method was developed as a suitable alternative. </p>