Publication Abstract

Single-laboratory validation of a refined AOAC HPLC method 2005.06 for oysters, cockles, and clams in UK shellfish.

A. D Turner, R.G. Hatfield, M. Rapkova-Dhanji, D.M. Norton., M. Algoet and D.N. Lees

In 2009, a refined HPLC method based on AOAC OM 2005.06 was developed and validated for the determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in mussels. A single-laboratory validation study of this method was undertaken here for the analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in oysters, cockles, clams and razors. The method was characterised for selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, repeatability, recovery, ruggedness and uncertainty of measurement. Validation data was utilised to determine method performance characteristics for non-mussel bivalves for all commercially-available certified reference toxins, extending the method to dcNEO and dcGTX2,3 where available. A period of parallel testing of oysters, cockles and clams enabled a comparison of sample toxicities obtained using MBA and HPLC methodologies, although only a very low number of PSP-positive samples were obtained through the UK official control monitoring program. Results from the MBA and HPLC methods were well correlated for PSP-negative samples, but the low number of naturally-contaminated PSP-positive samples has prevented any thorough statistical assessment of method performance for non-mussels between the two official methods of analysis. However, some evidence for potentially significant differences in toxicity results between the two methods in some species has highlighted the need for further comparative testing in non-mussel species to be conducted prior to implementation of the HPLC method in routine official control monitoring programmes.

Reference:

A. D Turner, R.G. Hatfield, M. Rapkova-Dhanji, D.M. Norton., M. Algoet and D.N. Lees (2010) Single-laboratory validation of a refined AOAC HPLC method 2005.06 for oysters, cockles, and clams in UK shellfish. Journal AOAC International 93 (5) 1482-1493