Selected Analytical Methods for Environmental Remediation and Recovery (SAM) provides a list of methods or procedures to be used in analyzing environmental samples for biotoxin contaminants. These methods should be used to support remediation activities (site assessment through clearance) following a homeland security event. Procedures have been compiled for each biotoxin that may need to be identified and/or quantified following a contamination incident. Analytical procedures are not currently available for all the analyte-sample type combinations included in SAM. Future research needs include identification of additional methods and development and validation of the procedures listed.

Please note: SAM provides guidance for selecting biotoxin methods that have a high likelihood of assuring analytical consistency when laboratories are faced with a large scale environmental restoration crisis. Not all methods have been verified for the analyte/sample type combination listed. Please refer to the specified method to identify analyte/sample type combinations that have been verified. Any questions regarding information for biotoxin contaminants and/or methods should be addressed to the appropriate contact(s) listed on the Technical Contacts page of this Web site. See: SAM Technical Contacts.

Some of the biotoxins addressed in SAM are commonly found in the environment, and the methods assume that analysis will be used to evaluate contamination levels that are above background conditions. If possible, an investigation of initial background levels, as well as controls for background levels, should be performed.

Procedures listed for protein biotoxins are intended to address presumptive, confirmatory, and biological activity determinations. Because the confirmatory procedures listed for the small molecule biotoxins involve a determination of intact compound structure (an indication of biological activity capability), only presumptive and confirmatory methods are listed for these biotoxins. In terms of this document, presumptive methods, or methods that support a reasonable basis for accurate results, should be used in situations that require a large number of samples to be processed. Most of the presumptive methods identified use the immunoassay technique and are designed for large scale sample processing. The confirmatory method, or the method that corroborates the presumptive results, should be used on the smaller subset of samples for which presumptive analysis indicates the presence of the biotoxin. A variety of techniques are listed in SAM as confirmatory and generally are more time consuming and expensive. The use of these terms in SAM is not intended to redefine LRN usage of these terms. Click on the LRN Summary to see how the terms presumptive and confirmatory are used by LRN. If it is necessary to determine the biological activity of a toxin, either an assay (for proteins) or a technique such as HPLC that determines whether the structure of the biotoxin is intact and likely to be biologically active (for small molecules) may be used. Biological activity analysis should be applied on an as-needed basis following analysis with the confirmatory technique. See: LRN Summary.

EPA's NHSRC is working on a sample collection document that is intended as a companion to SAM. This sample collection document will provide information regarding sampling container/media, preservation, holding time, sample size, and shipping and is intended to complement the laboratory analytical methods that are the focus of SAM.

To determine the appropriate method that is to be used on an environmental sample, locate the biotoxin of concern using the Biotoxin Methods Query page. After locating the biotoxin, continue across the table and identify the appropriate analysis type. After an analysis type has been chosen, find the analytical technique (e.g., immunoassay) and analytical method applicable to the sample type of interest (solid, particulate, liquid/drinking water, or aerosol) corresponding to that particular analyte. See: Biotoxin Methods Query.

Below is a list of all selected biotoxin methods with a link to their method abstract. Due to the complexity of some tables and graphics, some of our information is not amenable to a screen reader. If you have trouble accessing information contact Kathleen Nickel (nickel.kathy@epa.gov) and accommodations will be made.

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