MICROCYSTIN ANALYSIS - SUPERVISION OF AND RESULTS FROM PERFORMANCE TESTS Final Report to the Department of Environment
Report No DWI0762

Feb 1996

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A method for the determination of several microcystins and nodularin (algal toxins), which was recently published, has been performance tested.

Prior to the performance testing it was necessary to draft the method in the format of the Methods for the Examination of Waters and Associated Materials (MEWAM; SCA Blue Book) series, check the stability of the toxins in water and provide an experimental design for the testing which complied with the normal recommendations provided by the SCA.

Three of the laboratories participating in the performance testing (all from the water supply industry) were chosen following a competitive tendering process and the fourth laboratory was a National rivers Authority (NRA) laboratory.

Following comments from the participating laboratories, and with the agreement of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the original method drafted in Blue Book format was modified to reflect current water industry analytical practice.

The performance achieved by three laboratories suggests that:

The following should be taken into account when evaluating the results of the performance testing of the method:

Copies of this report may be available as an Acrobat pdf download under the 'Find Completed Research' heading on the DWI website.