Simultaneous determination of 13 paralytic shellfish toxins and tetrodotoxin in marine shellfish by porous graphitic carbon solid-phase extraction and hydrophilic interaction chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The lethal neurotoxins, paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), and tetrodotoxin (TTX) have recently been found in marine shellfish from many coastal states. Herein, we applied a sensitive and reliable ultra-performance hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) method to determine 13 PSTs and TTX in marine shellfish using a porous carbon solid-phase extraction (SPE). This in-house validation study required the development of a novel chromatographic separation using a HILIC-Z column, which was necessary to retain highly polar compounds.