Shellfish testing

Cefas Shellfish Testing (CST) offers a range of testing services for all major bivalve shellfish for:

• Microbiological testing
  • E. coli
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Norovirus
• Marine toxins
  • Amnesic shellfish poison (ASP)
    • ASP is a condition in humans caused by eating shellfish containing domoic acid, typically produced by Pseudo-nitzschia sp.
    • ASP is one of three regulated marine toxin groups within the EU.
    • ASP testing at Cefas is conducted via ISO17025 accredited methods.
    • The method provides an accurate measure of toxin concentration in the sample.
  • Paralytic shellfish poison (PSP)
    • PSP is a potentially fatal condition in humans caused by eating shellfish containing saxitoxin and other similar compounds.
    • PSP is one of three regulated marine toxin groups within the EU.
    • PSP testing at Cefas is conducted via ISO17025 accredited methods.
    • The method provides a presence/absence screen, followed by an accurate measure of toxin concentration in those samples initially testing positive.
    • Negative results are typically reported within 1 business day for sample reception at the laboratory, positive results require further analysis and so are typically reported within 2 business days of reception.
  • Lipophilic toxins, including diarrhetic shellfish poison (DSP)
    • The LT group contains Diahrretic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP), these toxins can cause severe gastroenteritis in humans eating contaminated shellfish.
    • The LT group contains 3 EU regulated toxin classes, Okadaic acid and related compounds, Azaspiracids and Yessotoxins. Results for each group are generated from a single test.
    • LT testing at Cefas is conducted via ISO17025 accredited methods.
    • The method provides an accurate measure of total concentration of each of the three groups within the LT group
    • Results are typically reported within 1 business day of sample reception at the laboratory.
• Freshwater toxins
  • Cyanotoxins
    • Cyanotoxins are produced by a range of freshwater bacteria and can contaminate water, algal concentrates and shellfish.
    • Cyanotoxin testing covers two groups of cyanotoxins, Microcystis and Nodularin.
    • Cyanotoxin testing at Cefas is conducted via ISO17025 accredited methods.
    • The method provides an accurate measure of total concentration of the two toxin groups tested
    • Results are typically reported within 2 weeks of sample reception at the laboratory.

To submit a sample please email cst@cefas.co.uk for a full quote and submission forms.

Detailed information on sample submission procedures can be found here.

Detailed information on sample submission procedures for norovirus can be found here.

Our commercial testing services are offered under our full terms and conditions which can be found here.

The testing service offered by CST uses recognised international testing protocols operated to the highest standards and conducted under ISO17025 accreditation.