Mist alert\u2122: a rapid assay for saralytic Shellfish poisoning toxins

Jellett Biotek Ltd. has developed a rapid f\uefeld test kit to screen for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins. The new test, called MIST AlertTM, provides a qualitative (positive/negative) indication of the presence of PSP toxins in less than 20 min. It is designed as a screening method for regulatory labs to eliminate negative samples, thereby leaving a smaller number of positive samples to be tested with more sophisticated and time-consuming quantitative methods. Due to its simplicity and speed, MIST AlertTM cari also be used in other applications such as shellfish harvest management and toxin research. The test is based on easy-to-use lateral flow immuno-chromatographic (LFI) test strips. The sensitivity of the test to several analogues of saxitoxin (STX) and neosaxitoxin (NEO) was investigated. The toxin analogues STX, GTX2/3 and Cl/2 epimeric mixtures, Bl and decarbamoyl saxitoxin (dc-STX) were detectable at concentrations of approximately 200 nM. The test was somewhat less sensitive to the NI-hydroxy derivatives NE0 and GTX1/4, requiring concentrations of 400 and 600 nM, respectively, to give a substantially positive test. Al1 toxins were detectable within or close to the regulatory limit of 80 pg saxitoxin dihydrochloride equivalents per 100 g of tissue (= 1075 nM STX) using the AOAC extraction procedure.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye