An innovative method based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction coupled to desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry for screening the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins in clams

• A QuEChERS extraction is proposed for the clean-up of saxitoxins from clams.
• Experimental design is used to optimize the QuEChERS extraction conditions.
• A DESI-HRMS method is used for screening and quantitate the PSP toxins.
• Clam samples taken from local markets are submitted to analysis.
• Similar results obtained by the QuEChERS-DESI-HRMS and MBA reference method.

The capabilities of desorption electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (DESI-HRMS) were tested for screening the presence of some paralytic shellfish toxins in clams. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) approach is proposed for sample clean-up. QuEChERS extraction was optimized by using a full factorial design followed by the multicriteria method of the desirability functions. Quantitation limits in the microgram per kilogram range proved reliability of the method for the detection of the investigated toxins in accordance to the rules laid down by European legislation. The optimized QuEChERS-DESI-HRMS based-method allowed for a rapid reliable screening of the investigated compounds at levels of interest, thus being useful for high-throughput analyses.

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