CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SUSPECT SHELLFISH POISONING.
Want to test for HAB associated toxins in Wild Alaskan seafood? Here’s what you need to know:
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation’s Environmental Health Laboratory:
Alaska DEC’s Environmental Health Laboratory is the only FDA approved lab for testing harmful algal bloom associated toxins within the state. The lab supports the commercial seafood industry in the state and has availability to test recreational samples as well. This page provides all of the information needed for those wanting to send in recreational and subsistence shellfish samples for analysis. The state of Alaska is ‘Dig at Your Own Risk’ and there are no certified beaches. Monitoring programs for harmful algal blooms and shellfish toxicity exist around the state of Alaska, but, besides the DEC lab, none are FDA approved.
What can you send in?
The types of samples can be run by the DEC lab:
- Wild Shellfish – SHUCKED & FROZEN
- Crabs – SHUCKED
How should it be sent in?
- Samples should be sent in cleaned & frozen in a leak proof container with ice packs
What information do you need to include on your sample submission form?
- Your name, affiliation (if you have one), and contact number
- Harvest Site information including; latitude, longitude, and harvest area name
- Who the sample was collected by and the date and time of the sample collection
- Test(s) requested
- Sample type (select ‘Surveillance/Research’ or ‘Other’)
- If sample is related to elevated levels of Dinophysis or Pseudo-nitzschia please note date of phytoplankton tows
To submit your sample as part of the AHAB network, or if the samples are in response to a HAB event:
- Email Thomas Farrugia and Rosie Masui to coordinate the sample submission and to tell us about the HAB Event you are experiencing
- farrugia@aoos.org rmmasui@alaska.edu
Where to go for more information:
- Alaska DEC’s Environmental Health Laboratory: https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/lab/
- Alaska DEC’s Marine Toxin’s Sample Form: https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/lab/lab-submission-manual-forms
- Alaska DEC’s Shellfish Program Resources: https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/shellfish/
Blue mussels on a beach in South Central Alaska. Photo by Kachemak Bay NERR.