Rapid and Sensitive ELISA Screening Assay for Several Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Human Urine

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by a group of paralytic shellfish toxins that are produced by dinoflagellates. Toxins in this group include saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin and gonyautoxins. A rapid diagnostic test to identify poisoning by these toxins can be helpful in guiding the appropriate treatment of victims. Additionally, quick receipt of diagnostic results can provide timely proof that shellfish harvesting should be stopped in a given area, thereby preventing additional exposures. We have developed and validated a rapid urinary enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based screening test to diagnose exposure to several major paralytic shellfish toxins. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) for multiple paralytic shellfish toxins was characterized as 0.02, 0.10, 0.10, 1.0, 1.0 and 15 ng/mL for saxitoxin, gonyautoxin 2,3, decarbamoyl gonyautoxin 2,3, decarbamoyl saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin and gonyautoxin 1,4, respectively. No interferences were identified in unspiked pooled urine or in specimens collected from unexposed individuals indicating that this method is specific for the paralytic shellfish toxins tested. The accuracy of this test was demonstrated in 10 individual urine specimens with osmolalities ranging from 217 to 1,063 mOsmol/kg and pHs ranging between 5.06 and 7.45. These specimens were spiked with toxins at their LLODs and the presence of toxins at these concentrations was accurately identified in all cases. These results indicate that this diagnostic test can be used to rapidly and accurately screen urine for paralytic shellfish toxins.