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Number 31
TABLE 1: SURVEILLANCE FOR DSP TOXINS IN ENGLISH
SHELLFISH COLLECTED IN 1993: FREQUENCY OF POSITIVE RESULTS BY TWO METHODS OF
DETECTION
A total of 309 samples of shellfish were collected from 8 sites along the
North East coast of England and 11 other sites along the coast of England and
Wales. Samples were analysed for DSP toxins using a bioassay, with confirmation
of positive results generally being carried out using HPLC. The limit of
detection of the HPLC method is 20 µg per 100g hepatopancreas.
Sample type |
Number of samples tested |
Number of positive samples |
|
By bioassay
|
By HPLC
|
|
Mussels
|
261
|
5
|
3
|
|
Cockles
|
33
|
-
|
-
|
|
Oysters
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
Crab
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
Winkles
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
|
Whelks
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
For mussels, positive samples were as follows:
Berwick 18 May 1993 (2 samples)
Trow Rocks# 20 May 1993
East Staithes# 20 May 1993
Berwick Dock Gates 28 September 1993
# not confirmed by HPLC
Table 2
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These pages were last updated on 1 October 1996
