Never Be Surprised by a Harmful Algal Bloom Again

Cyanobacteria toxins are produced by many strains of cyanobacteria spanning multiple genera. Toxicity is not uniform among strains so conventional bacteriological classification methods are unable to accurately predict toxicity. Analytical methods for the detection of the toxins often take days to perform and are not predictive. Early detection of toxins is critical; the consumption of cyanotoxins can create serious health effects and be fatal in high doses.

Phytoxigene has developed and validated molecular based tests for the detection of biotoxin production in fresh, brackish and marine water environments from both cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, that pose a threat to public health. The CyanoDTec assays are simple molecular assays for the detection of hepatotoxins such as microcystin, nodularin and cylindrospermopsin and neurotoxins such as saxitoxin, anatoxin and guanitoxin. The DinoDTec assay detects and quantifies the presence of sxtA genes from saxitoxin producing Dinoflagellates in marine environments.

Standard Method 10120

The American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) have approved and published the CyanoDTec assay as Standard Method 10120; QUANTITATIVE PCR FOR CYANOBACTERIA AND CYANOTOXIN-PRODUCING GENES. Click here to learn more.