New test kit for seafood industry

Neogen Europe, a business dedicated to the development and marketing of diagnostic kits, has added to its range of tests for the seafood industry with the introduction of rapid tests to detect the toxins that cause amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP).

The company’s new Reveal 2.0 for ASP detects ASP-causing toxins at a level of 20 parts per million (ppm), and Reveal 2.0 for DSP detects DSP-causing toxins at 160 parts per billion (ppb). Both are one-step rapid tests, and are compatible with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union Commission permitted levels.

Neogen states that both new shellfish toxin tests offer easy extraction processes, meaning they are on-site field tests capable of being used on a boat. They can also be used with Neogen’s AccuScan Pro Reader.

“The combination of the new tests and test reader provides an unparalleled ease in achieving consistently accurate results when testing for these toxins,” says Neogen Europe’s Steve Chambers. “The AccuScan Pro Reader completely eliminates the variance in interpreting test results that can exist when only using a visual appraisal, especially with inexperienced testers. It also provides a very easy method of storing and analysing test results – which is becoming increasingly required as many nations move to reduce the risk posed by these shellfish toxins.”

Toxins that cause ASP are produced by toxigenic diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, and primarily include domoic acid (DA). In addition to contamination of seafood, these marine biotoxins can result in human and marine wildlife mortality. The clinical toxicological effects attributed to DA can include: permanent loss of short-term memory, nausea, vomiting, headache, disorientation and loss of balance. Most countries have currently established a maximum permitted level of 20 mg DA per kg whole shellfish (20 ppm).