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Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab
Knowing that consuming untested shellfish can lead to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) leaves you with only two options: 1) don’t go clamming or 2) find a way to test your shellfish.
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska built an Environmental Research Lab (STA-ERL) to give shellfish harvesters around Southeast a way of testing subsistence shellfish. The lab uses a Receptor Binding Assay (RBA) to determine the concentration of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in a shellfish sample. The RBA method is able to test for total toxicity since there are over 20 congeners of PSTs that can cause PSP. An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is used to quantitatively test for domoic acid. Higher concentrations of domoic acid in shellfish can cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). If shellfish have unsafe levels of toxins in them, the Sitka Tribe will send out a community-wide alert.
How to Get Your Shellfish Tested
- Make a plan for testing your samples. STA-ERL staff recommend you test each species you plan to consume, as toxin levels can vary significantly. Personal and community shellfish samples can be tested for free!
- The testing procedure starts when you’re harvesting. Make sure you collect extra shellfish of each species and in each distinct harvesting location to be tested. Our lab needs approximately 5 ounces (~⅓ of a pound) of shellfish meat for tests, so plan accordingly. For guidelines on the number of extra shellfish you should collect, look on the back of the Shellfish Marine Biotoxin Sample Form.
- Rinse as much dirt or grit off the outside of your shellfish as best you can. Do not hold shellfish for the lab in seawater or freshwater, however. If you can’t bring them to the Sitka Tribe directly after clamming, keep them in the fridge and cover them with a wet cloth.
- Deliver samples to the address below in a waterproof plastic bag, such as a Ziploc. Samples may be hand delivered or shipped with appropriate packaging. All submitted samples must be accompanied by a completed Shellfish Testing Form. Send all samples to:
STA-ERL
ATTN: Environmental Lab Manager
429 Katlian Street
Sitka, AK 9983
Getting Your Results
Shellfish will be tested the first full business day after they are received unless otherwise noted. You will be contacted with your results as soon as they become available. We will follow the FDA-approved guidelines of not more than 80 µg/100g of shellfish for saxitoxins and not more than 20 ppm for domoic acid to determine whether shellfish are safe or unsafe. Please note: as a general rule, we will not publish your results any further as long as all samples come back under regulatory limits for toxins. If any samples come back above the regulatory level, however, we reserve the right to issue a community advisory for the area.