Ideal for public and animal health researchers, this session presents the ABRAXIS® ACE kit for the selective capture, extraction and concentration of microcystins from complex matrices such as blood serum and urine. Combining lecture and hands-on training, participants will gain an understanding of the scientific basis of the kit design, be guided through the kit protocol, explore best practices and learn how to integrate the kit into downstream analytical workflows such as ELISA or LC-MS/MS.

This workshop combines lectures and hands-on training for new and current users of the McLane Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB). Participants strengthen skills in operation, maintenance, and alignment, gain updates on new developments, and engage in open discussion and feedback. Goals include training beginners, refreshing experienced users, sharing IFCB updates, and fostering community exchange. By attending, participants will perform optimal alignment, deepen technical knowledge, and engage with ongoing IFCB developments.

Cyanobacteria have the potential to produce harmful toxins which can cause adverse health effects in humans and animals. Monitoring tools are needed to assess environmental conditions and stop blooms in their nascent stages, ideally, before toxins can be produced. This workshop will provide a comprehensive introduction to integrated harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring, from the reservoir to the lab. Participants will gain practical skills in the use of three early-detection HAB screening systems that provide different and complementary information: an online multi-parameter measuring & reporting system, an automated flow imaging microscope and a quantitative PCR assay.