Fluorometric Determination of Histamine in Tuna: Collaborative Study

Abstract

Six samples of canned tuna, albacore, yellow-fin, and skipjack, in water or oil pack were analyzed in duplicate by a fluorometric method and the AOAC colorimetric method. For the fluorometric method, recoveries of histamine added to acceptable tuna averaged 99% with a range of 91 to 107%. Agreement between laboratories for the analyses of decomposed tuna containing 20–200 mg histamine/100 g sample was excellent. Results from the fluorometric method are comparable with those from the AOAC colorimetric method ; the fluorometric method has been adopted as official first action.