Employing state-of-the-art instrumentation in HPLC, Laboratorio CIFGA can develop analytical chemistry methods for the analysis of a wide range of marine and freshwater toxins. In order to replace the bioassays we have developed a multitoxin-method from extracts of different species of bivalve molluscs and processed shellfish products that covers the same analyte range using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography in combination with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) which has a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity.

We have an expert staff dedicated to the design and development of marine toxin analysis. We focus on marine toxin and fresh water liquid chromatography services, but offer a complete range of analytical expertise services on the followings fields:

  • HPLC/MS/MS (preparative and analytical).
  • HPLC method development.
  • NMR characterization.
  • UV.
  • Fluorescence.
 Our portfolio of analysis includes lipophilic toxins subdivided into:
  • Okadaic acid (OA) group: okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1), dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2) and their respective esters (DTX-3).
  • Yessotoxin (YTX) group.
  • Azaspiracid (AZA) group.
  • Pectenotoxin (PTX) group.
  • Brevetoxin (PbTX) group.
 and also hydrophilic toxins:
  • Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSPs) group.
  • Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) group.
  • Tetrodotoxin group.
 Our equipment includes:
  • Analytical systems:
  1. ACQUITY UPLC binary system with XevoTMTQ MS detector (tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer with ScanWaveTMcollision cell technology).
  2. HPLC binary system with QTRAPTMLC/MS/MS detector (hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer).
  3. Alliance HPLC binary system with fluorescence detector.
  4. HPLC binary system with fluorescence detector.
  • Analytical-preparative systems:
  1. 3100 mass detector: single quadrupole atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass detector.
  2. Quattro micro detector: tandem cuadrupole atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass detector.
  3. UV/Visible detector.
  4. Different sample managers and binary-quaternary gradient modules.
 We customize each project, making your needs our own, maintaining constant communication and guaranteeing absolute confidentiality at every level.