Our services and advice

We provide advice on the design and implementation of both shellfish and phytoplankton biotoxin monitoring programmes.

Our programme co-ordinators and phytoplankton specialists offer advice on:

• the species of shellfish to be sampled
• sampling frequencies
• the methods to be applied.

We also offer a comprehensive mapping service to complement the design of such programmes.

In addition, our expert chemists provide advice on the nature and effect of the causative compounds, and training on the use of modern analytical techniques.

For more information, please contact biotoxinmonitoring@cefas.co.uk.

Our plankton taxonomists can identify and enumerate marine phytoplankton in water samples and potentially toxic cysts in sediments. This may be required as part of environmental impact assessments, for example prior to the movement of dredged sediments.  

For more information, please contact biotoxinmonitoring@cefas.co.uk.

We routinely produce PSP laboratory reference material for a number of shellfish species, including Pacific oysters, native oysters, cockles and king scallops. Laboratory reference material can be produced for external monitoring laboratories on request, as whole shellfish or partially characterised homogenate.

A certification programme for PSP-contaminated reference material is underway, with commercial product release scheduled for June 2012. This material will be available for purchase via Cefas Technology Limited.

In addition to a wet PSP certified reference material (CRM), a freeze-dried PSP CRM is due for release in 2012. For updates on our release date and product information on these CRMs, please contact referencematerials@cefas.co.uk.

Further shellfish laboratory reference materials contaminated PSP and other marine biotoxins is continuing with the aim of producing a range of products in the future.

For more information, please contact referencematerials@cefas.co.uk.

We investigate and undertake laboratory testing when humans have been affected after eating shellfish, potentially contaminated with marine biotoxins. This service is part of a wider one offered by our Food Safety group, which investigates shellfish intoxication outbreaks.

• Poster (HPA, 2009): Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins: the story behind a recent case of human intoxication in the UK (PDF, 2.4MB)

For more information, please contact biotoxinmonitoring@cefas.co.uk.

Through the Cefas Shellfish Testing (CST) service and Cefas Technology Limited (CTL) we now offer a range of commercial testing services (including marine toxins testing) for all major bivalve shellfish.

The services offered use recognised international testing protocols operated to the highest standards. They are available to:

• Shellfish industry, food business operators, importers, retailers and restaurants wishing to verify the health status of bivalve shellfish before harvesting takes place, before placing products on the market or at the point of sale. One possible use is end-product testing, to ensure compliance with food safety legislation.
• Port health authorities, border inspection posts, local authorities, health protection agencies or other government organisations with food safety responsibilities, in the UK or elsewhere. Samples can be tested for official control purposes, in accordance with EC Regulations 854/2004 and 853/2004 or import control legislation.

Further information

• Technical: visit our Cefas Shellfish Testing (CST) pages for details on the methods used for commercial testing
• Prices, service delivery and sales: visit our Cefas Technology Limited
• Clarification or further assistance: please contact telephone or email
  +44 (0)1305 206600 / cst@cefastechnology.co.uk