University Develops Seafood Testing Method

August 18, 2010

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Mississippi State Univ. announced a new analytical method developed by State Chemical Lab scientists at MSU that will be used to test seafood from the Gulf of Mexico for evidence of oil contamination, pending review from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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Mississippi State Univ. recently received a boost for the new method when Agilent installed a 7000 Series GC/MS/MS PAH Analyzer that determines levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the primary oil contaminants that affect seafood.

"Repetition and precision in the testing process are essential," says Prof. Kang Xia. he lab's current instrument isn't reliable. It is over 10 years old and has suffered numerous mechanical and software failures due to its advanced age and heavy use. Agilent's 7000 Series GC/MS/MS PAH Analyzer will prevent this from happening."

In addition, the Agilent GC/MS/MS PAH Analyzer shortens the turnaround time between testing a sample and providing results to regulatory agencies. With the new piece of equipment, it will take about two and a half days to take 20 samples, run tests and receive the results.

This method takes less time than the method currently used by the NOAA, hich takes five to six days.

"It is critical that Mississippi State and similar research facilities tasked with monitoring the safety of seafood in the Gulf have the most advanced technology available," says Mike McMullen, president of Agilent's Chemical Analysis Group. "Agilent has a long history of providing leading technologies in hydrocarbon processing, environmental and food safety testing, all key areas of response in the Gulf. Within weeks of the spill, our scientists had developed turnkey solutions to immediately improve productivity and analytical performance."

Findings will also be submitted to a peer-reviewed publication.

"Mississippi State's research, service and outreach are making a difference now, and we will continue to provide long-term leadership as the region recovers from the environmental and economic effects of the oil spill," says David Shaw, the land-grant institution's vice president for research and economic development.

Source: Agilent Technologies, Inc.

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