Description
The saxitoxin ELISA is a competitive enzyme immunoassay for the screening and quantitative analysis of the shellfish poison saxitoxin in various matrices. The test is based on rabbit polyclonal antibodies against saxitoxin. With this ELISA, 96 analyses can be performed. Samples and standards are measured in duplicate which means that in total 40 samples can be analysed. The ELISA kit contains all reagents required to perform the test, including ready-to-use standards. Materials and chemicals necessary for the extraction of saxitoxin from sample material are not included in the test kit.
Marine biotoxins, also called phytotoxins or shellfish toxins, are naturally occurring compounds produced by algae and phytoplankton. Under normal conditions these compounds do not cause any problem. However, filter feeders such as clams, mussels, oysters and crustaceans can consume large quantities of these algae when environmental conditions result in harmful algal blooms, also known as 'Red Tides'. High concentrations of shellfish toxins then accumulate in these animals causing illness amongst people who eat them. There are four syndromes called shellfish poisoning, i.e. paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). A variety of symptoms are reported to arise from these poisonings, including stomach cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, memory loss, paralysis and in some cases even death. PSP is caused by saxitoxin and its analogues. DSP is primarily caused by okadaic acid (OA) and several analogues of OA, whereas ASP is caused by domoic acid (DA). Saxitoxin (STX) is one of the most potent natural toxins known. It acts as a selective sodium channel blocker and is produced by certain species of marine dinoflagellates (Alexandrium sp., Gymnodinium sp., Pyrodinium sp.) and cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp., some Aphanizomenon spp., Cylindrospermopsis sp., Lyngbya sp., and Planktothrix sp.). The term saxitoxin can also refer to the entire suite of related neurotoxin produced by these microorganisms, such as pure saxitoxin (STX), neosaxitoxin (neoSTX), decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX) and the gonyautoxins (GTX).
In the European Union, Regulation (EC) no 853/2004 stipulates that live bivalve mollusks must not contain Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning toxins (saxitoxin and analogues) in total quantity (measured in the whole body or any part edible separately) that exceeds a limit of 800 µg per kilogram