Okadaic acid (OA) is a biotoxin from marine microalgae and widely present in shellfish, which severely affects the seafood safety. Therefore, it is essential to establish a highly sensitive OA analysis and detection method. In this study, a new type of immunoassay technology was established on the basis of the competition method using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA). OA-bovine serum albumin (OA-BSA) coated on a 96-well plate competes with OA standard or samples to bind OA antibodies. A rare-earth ion-labeled secondary antibody, which fluoresces strongly under the effect of the enhancement solution, was then added as a tracer for detection. The established linear range of OA detected by TRFIA was 2.49 × 10-3 – 50 ng/ml, and the limit of detection was 2.49 × 10-3 ng/ml. The average coefficients of variation from intra-assay and inter-assay batches were 3.34% and 5.87%, respectively, and the recovery rate was 93.04%–111.66%. The OA in shellfish samples was determined by TRFIA and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the results showed a good correlation. This study established a TRFIA to detect OA, which has the characteristics of simplicity, sensitivity, precision, and high accuracy, far exceeding the EU or the US standards for the detection of shellfish toxins. It is expected to make proper contribution in marine biotoxin detection.

Okadaic acid (OA), a marine biotoxin produced by microalgae, poses a significant threat to mariculture, seafood safety, and human health. The establishment of a novel, highly sensitive detection method for OA would have significant practical and scientific implications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an innovative approach for OA detection. A competitive amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) was developed using the principle of specific antigen–antibody binding based on the energy transfer between chemiluminescent microspheres. The method was non-washable, sensitive, and rapid, which could detect 2 × 10−2–200 ng/mL of OA within 15 min, and the detection limit was 4.55 × 10−3 ng/mL. The average intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 2.54% and 6.26%, respectively. Detection of the actual sample results exhibited a good correlation with high-performance liquid chromatography. In conclusion, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and accurate AlphaLISA method was established for detecting OA and is expected to significantly contribute to marine biotoxin research.