Abstract
Harmful algal blooms are a significant threat to fresh waters necessitating routine testing to protect humans from exposure to contaminated drinking and recreational waters and for forecasting and modelling. Since toxin profiles change spatially and temporally there is significant need for rapid tests that can provide real-time, local answers. Currently, the four classes of toxins that are typically monitored in freshwater are microcystins (MC), cylindrospermopsins (CYN), saxitoxins (STX) and anatoxin-a (ATX-a). There is currently no method of measuring STX in freshwaters in the field and only a semi-quantitative test strip for ATX-a. A rapid, portable multiplexed test would reduce the time and cost associated with collecting critical data while improving human safety by ensuring that all four toxin classes are always monitored. The LightDeck technology enables portable, multiplexed detection of toxins and has been demonstrated in a duplex MC/CYN panel and is being expanded to include STX and ATX toxin classes.
Corresponding author's email: sarah.bickman@lightdeckdx.com