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A mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue certified reference material for the marine biotoxins azaspiracids

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Abstract

Azaspiracids (AZAs) are lipophilic biotoxins produced by marine algae that can contaminate shellfish and cause human illness. The European Union (EU) regulates the level of AZAs in shellfish destined for the commercial market, with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) being used as the official reference method for regulatory analysis. Certified reference materials (CRMs) are essential tools for the development, validation, and quality control of LC-MS methods. This paper describes the work that went into the planning, preparation, characterization, and certification of CRM-AZA-Mus, a tissue matrix CRM, which was prepared as a wet homogenate from mussels (Mytilus edulis) naturally contaminated with AZAs. The homogeneity and stability of CRM-AZA-Mus were evaluated, and the CRM was found to be fit for purpose. Extraction and LC-MS/MS methods were developed to accurately certify the concentrations of AZA1 (1.16 mg/kg), AZA2 (0.27 mg/kg), and AZA3 (0.21 mg/kg) in the CRM. Quantitation methods based on standard addition and matrix-matched calibration were used to compensate for the matrix effects in LC-MS/MS. Other toxins present in this CRM at lower levels were also measured with information values reported for okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-2, yessotoxin, and several spirolides.

LC-MS/MS profile of CRM-AZA-Mus. 37-epi-AZAs resolved using neutral pH mobile phase.

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Acknowledgments

The following staff members at the NRCC (1), the Canadian Institute of Fisheries and Technology (2), and Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (3) contributed to the production and certification of CRM-AZA-Mus: Dian Marciniak (1), Sheila Crain (1), Elliott Wright (1), Ruth A. Perez (1), Douglas Singer (2), Anne Timmins (2), John Thompson (2), and Bruno Laventure (3). This project was supported by the ASTOX project (ST/02/02, 2003–2006) funded through the Irish National Development Plan (NDP) and the Irish Marine Institute.

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Author notes

  1. Philipp Hess

    Present address: Ifremer, Rue de l’Île d’Yeu, Nantes, CEDEX 03, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council of Canada, Measurement Science and Standards, Biotoxin Metrology, 1411 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3Z1, Canada

    Pearse McCarron, Sabrina D. Giddings, Kelley L. Reeves & Michael A. Quilliam

  2. Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway, Ireland

    Pearse McCarron & Philipp Hess

Authors
  1. Pearse McCarron
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  2. Sabrina D. Giddings
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  3. Kelley L. Reeves
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  4. Philipp Hess
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  5. Michael A. Quilliam
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Correspondence to Pearse McCarron.

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Published in the topical collection Reference Materials for Chemical Analysis with guest editors Hendrik Emons and Stephen A. Wise.

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McCarron, P., Giddings, S.D., Reeves, K.L. et al. A mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue certified reference material for the marine biotoxins azaspiracids. Anal Bioanal Chem 407, 2985–2996 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8250-5

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