NPRB Project 925 Improved Capacity for Ensuring Alaskan Shellfish Safety 2009-2011, Stewart, T.

Domoic acid (DA) is a potent toxin found intermittently in shellfish and is responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans. An ELISA for
domoic acid has been evaluated for use in monitoring Alaskan shellfish. The performance of the assay was determined using a variety of shellfish species.
Studies were designed to measure accuracy, precision, recovery, specificity, ruggedness, and correlation with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
The assay limit of detection is approximately 4 ppm. The assay is specific for DA and no matrix interference was observed. Correlation with HPLC was excellent.
Spike recovery averaged 95%. Correlation coefficients of replicates were approximately 15%. Validation results have been submitted to the International
Shellfish Sanitation Conference with an application for regulatory approval.
The field assay based on this method has been developed for use at the point of sample collection, e.g., on a beach or boat. Evaluation of this field
test was performed using a variety of shellfish species. Briefly, a sample extract is diluted and placed on a membrane filter that responds to the
presence of DA. A colored pattern is produced on the white membrane similar to a home pregnancy test. Concentrations of DA are estimated by comparing
the color response to a reference chart. The assay is specific for DA and no matrix interference was observed among the species tested. The low cost,
simplicity, sensitivity, and rapid analysis time provided by this assay make it useful to a variety of groups interested in monitoring DA concentrations
in environment samples.
These datasets were archived as part of the North Pacific Research Board legacy project recovery effort undertaken by Axiom Data Science and NPRB in 2025. The goal of the recovery effort was to assess the NPRB-funded data projects from 2002 to 2014 and archive final data packages that were ready for publication to increase long-term accessibility and discoverability. Data packages were archived as is given limited funding and resources.