Review and assessment of in vitro detection methods for algal toxins

Algal toxins produced by marine and freshwater microalgae present a significant analytical challenge because of their complex structures and frequent occurrence as mixtures of structural congeners, which differ in toxic potencies and are present at varying proportions in contaminated samples. Rapid, sensitive in vitro detection methods specific for each class of algal toxins have been developed over the past decade, including immunoassays, enzyme inhibition assays, receptor assays, and cell assays. This review discusses the conceptual approaches to assay development and provides a detailed assessment of the use of in vitro detection methods for marine and freshwater algal toxins.