Development of reference materials for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

A project was undertaken to develop mussel reference materials that were ce rtified for their mass fractions of saxitoxin and decarbamoyl-saxitoxin. Fi fteen laboratories from various European countries participated. Three of t hese had major responsibility for substantial parts of the work and overall coordination of the project. The project involved 4 main activities: (1) p rocurement and characterization of calibrants; (2) improvement of analytica l methodology; (3) preparation of reference materials, including homogeneit y and stability studies; (4) 2 interlaboratory studies and a certification exercise. The joint activities resulted in 3 homogeneous and stable referen ce materials: 2 lyophilized mussel materials with and without naturally inc urred paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, and a saxitoxin enrichmen t solution. The reference materials were certified with respect to their sa xitoxin and decarbamoyl-saxitoxin content. The lyophilized mussel material with PSP toxins (CRM 542) contained <0.07 mg saxitoxin.2HCl/kg and 1.59 +/- 0.20 mg decarbamoyl-saxitoxin.2HCl/kg. The lyophilized mussel material with out PSP toxins (CRM 543) contained <0.07 mg saxitoxin.2HCl/kg and <0.04 mg decarbamoyl-saxitoxin.2HCl/kg. The certified value of the saxitoxin mass fr action in the saxitoxin enrichment solution (CRM 663) was 9.8 +/-1.2 mug/g.