A review of the literature on shellfish depuration and relaying revealed wide diversity in microbial uptake and elimination among shellfish species and for different microorganisms. Information on relaying of five commercial shellfish species and on controlled purification (depuration) of 11 species indicates that such processes are effective in reducing the levels of bioconcentrated bacteria and viruses from shellfish. The degree of bacterial and viral bioconcentration varies with shellfish species; however, the primary sites of bioconcentration are the hepatopancreas and digestive diverticula. Low levels of enteric viruses and coliphage may be sequestered in shellfish hemolymph and tissues, thus protecting them from elimination through depurative processes. Vibrio spp. appear to proliferate when closely associated with intestinal cells of shellfish. Shellfish relaying techniques offer effective microbial depletion provided water quality is acceptable and shellfish remain physiologically active. The curr...