Validation of the CALUX bioassay for the screening of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in retail fish

The chemical-activated luciferase expression (CALUX) assay is a reporter gene assay that detects dioxin-like compounds based on their ability to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and thus expression of the reporter gene. In this paper, the CALUX assay was examined for its application in the screening of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) in retail fish. The sample extracts were cleaned up on a sulfuric acid-silica gel column followed by an activated carbon column, and the AhR activity of the separated PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB fractions was determined using the assay. The quantitative limit for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) was 0.98 pg ml(-1) (0.19 pg assay(-1) in the standard curve, corresponding to 0.16 pg g(-1) of CALUX-based toxic equivalency (2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents) in the tested sample. Recovery tests in which dioxins were added to fish samples resulted in acceptable recoveries (77-117%). The CALUX assay performed well in the analysis of dioxins in fish samples and a comparative study revealed a strong correlation between the CALUX assay and high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis for the determination of PCDD/Fs (r = 0.89) and dioxin-like PCBs (r = 0.91) in retail fish (n = 22). These data revealed that the CALUX assay would be a useful screening method for PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in retail fish.     

A rapid surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor immunoassay for screening of somatotropins in injection preparations

The use of growth hormones (recombinant somatotropins (rSTs)) is approved in several countries, e.g. the USA, Brazil and Australia to enhance growth or lactating performances of livestock. Their use in the EU is banned, however, due to the widespread application, the illegal use within the EU cannot be excluded. To screen for rSTs in injection preparations, a biosensor immunoassay (BIA) using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology was developed. Compared to existing analysis methods for rSTs, like radio immunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), this technique provides a rapid (7 min) alternative. A direct BIA was compared to an indirect (inhibition) BIA and the performances of several antibodies against (r)STs were compared in the indirect BIA. In the final inhibition assay, using rabbit anti-bovine rST, extracts from several injection preparations were shown to contain bovine rST (rbST). The limit of detection for rbST in the assay is 0.008 microg mL(-1) which is far below the expected concentrations in injection preparations. Although the cross-reactivities for STs of other species were low, screening of injection preparations for porcine, equine and human ST was feasible through the analysis of less diluted extracts. Tryptic digestion followed by nano-electrospray liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) was used to identify STs.     

Polychlorinated naphthalene concentrations and profiles in cheese and butter,and comparisons with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin,polychlorinated dibenzofuran and polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are candidates for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants. PCNs are structurally and toxicologically similar to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) and its analogues. Intake in food is considered to be an important human exposure pathway for PCNs. In this preliminary study, cheese and butter samples were analysed for PCNs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using an isotope dilution gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PCN concentrations in the cheese and butter samples and to compare them with the PCDD, PCDF and PCB concentrations. The PCN concentrations were 5.6–103 pg g^?1 of wet weight in the seven cheese samples tested and 5.0–199 pg g^?1 of wet weight in the seven butter samples tested. The mass concentrations of lower chlorinated congeners were greater than those of the higher chlorinated congeners. Congeners of CN45/36, CN27/30 and CN33/34/37 were much more abundant than other congeners found in tetrachlorinated PCNs. Congeners of CN51, CN66/67 and CN73 were determined to be the predominant congeners in penta-, hexa- and heptachlorinated homologs, respectively. The PCNs contributed around 5% of the total PCN, PCDD, PCDF and PCB toxic equivalence (TEQ) values. CN73 was found to be the dominant PCN congener and contributed more than 40% to the PCN TEQ value. Congeners CN66/67, CN69 and CN63 were also found at relatively high levels. The PCB congener CB118 was the predominant congener (by mass-based concentration) of the 12 dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs). The PCBs contributed 53.8% of the total TEQ, and congener CB126 contributed more than any other compound that was analysed to the total TEQ. The PCDDs and PCDFs contributed 11.6% and 29.7% of the total TEQ values, respectively.     

Immunochemical determination of dioxins in sediment and serum samples

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are considered highly toxic contaminants and the environmental and biological monitoring of these compounds is of great concern. Immunoassays may be used as screening methods to satisfy the growing demand for rapid and low cost analysis. In this work, we describe the application of an immunoassay that uses 2,3,7-trichloro-8-methyldibenzo-p-dioxin (TMDD) as a surrogate standard for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to sediment and human serum samples. Sample extraction and preparation methods were developed with the aim to establish the simplest, cost-effective and efficient removal of the matrix interferences in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall method for sediments is based on a hexane extraction; clean up by a multilayered silica gel column and an activated carbon column; an organic solvent exchange with DMSO–Triton X-100 and ELISA measurement. The gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) validation studies (n = 13) revealed that the method is suitable for the toxic equivalents (TEQ) screening of dioxin in sediments with a method detection limit of about 100 pg g⁻¹ dry sediment with a precision of 13–33% R.S.D. The analysis of a large number of samples originating from different sources would be required to establish more precisely the screening level, as well as the number of false positives and negatives of dioxin TEQ by the immunoassay for sediments. The immunoassay method for sediment analysis offers improvement in speed, sample throughput, and cost in comparison to GC–HRMS. Dioxins were determined in serum samples after a simple liquid–liquid extraction and solvent exchange into DMSO–Triton X-100 without further dilution. The current method (approximate method LOQ of 200 pg ml⁻¹ serum) is not sufficiently sensitive for the determination of dioxins in serum to measure acceptable exposure limit.     

DR-CALUX((R)) screening of food samples: evaluation of the quantitative approach to measure dioxin, furans and dioxin-like PCBs

European legislation laid down maximum tolerable levels of dioxin in feed and food as well as analytical method requirements. In order to face with large monitoring programs, it was foreseen in the EU strategy to integrate screening methods, using either a qualitative (screening) approach, or a quantitative approach. In this study, dioxin results obtained using the Dioxin Responsive Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (DR-CALUX^®) cell-based assay (quantitative approach), were compared with gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) analyses data. Instead of using World Health Organization–toxic equivalent factor (WHO–TEF), the comparison was based on the assessment of relative effective potencies (REPs) for each congener of the 17 toxic 2,3,7,8-polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and 12 dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs). According to published data, DR-CALUX^®-REP evaluated here appear similar to WHO–TEF for PCDD/Fs while lower values were observed for DL-PCBs.

We analyzed two “home made” contaminated fat samples, displaying both the same WHO–toxic equivalent quantities (WHO–TEQ) concentration (12 pg WHO–TEQ g⁻¹). They were spiked with either a low or a high amount of DL-PCBs. In both cases, the DR-CALUX^® measured concentration (picogram 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) eq. g⁻¹) corresponded to the PCDD/Fs WHO–TEQ concentration only. A good agreement was nevertheless found between the DR-CALUX^® measurements and the recalculated DR-CALUX^®-TEQ contents (using DR-CALUX^®-REP instead of WHO–TEF), demonstrating that the observed response was due, in both cases, to the addition of the responses of the standards added to the fat. By contrast, in real contaminated samples (feed or cod liver samples), DR-CALUX^® measured concentrations were similar to WHO–TEQ GC–HRMS measured concentrations. But, depending on the PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs congener content, the DR-CALUX^® measured concentrations were either lower or higher than calculated DR-CALUX^®-TEQ contents, demonstrating that possible co-extracted contaminants contributed to the CALUX response.

Owing to these divergences, the quantitative determination of dioxin-like content in food and feed using CALUX as screening method is questionable, except for samples displaying constant congener patterns, in which cases, correction factors could be applied.     

Relative performance of immunochemical (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and gas chromatography-electron-capture detection techniques to quantify polychlorinated biphenyls in mussel tissues

Results from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) analyses of mussel tissue extracts by immunoassay (PCB RaPID Assay^®) and conventional gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) are described and compared. Mussels from natural populations with diverse concentrations of PCBs, mussel tissue fortified with technical Aroclor^® 1254 and a certified reference material are included.A strong correlation is reported between “total” PCBs quantified by both techniques (r²=0.95, n=27). Immunoassay results, however, exhibited lower values compared to GC-ECD, particularly when GC results are corrected for procedural recovery. A reduced antibody response, due to differences in the congener composition between the mussel extracts and Aroclor^® 1254 (used to raise and calibrate the ELISA), provides the most likely explanation for this difference. Non-parametric statistical analyses confirmed that, although differing from Aroclor^® 1254, PCB congener compositions in the mussel extracts most closely resemble that of Aroclor^® 1254. At very high PCB concentrations (>30 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), however, ELISA results are statistically different (P<0.01) from GC-ECD results, which is likely to be related to the solvation capacity of ELISA diluent. Similarity analysis showed high correlations between the most prominent congeners in Aroclor^® 1254 and immunoassay results. This analysis did not, however, identify a specific chlorine substitution pattern to which the immunoassay preferentially responded.Whilst GC-ECD affords the capability to quantify individual congeners of different reactivity and toxicity, the data reported do indicate that immunoassay offers a rapid and inexpensive alternative method for estimation of “total” PCBs at environmentally significant levels. It is, however, necessary to remove extraneous lipids to reduce matrix effects in the immunoassay.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colloidal gold immunoassay for sulphamethazine residues in edible animal foods: investigation of the effects of the analytical conditions and the sample matrix on assay performance

To determine sulphamethazine (SMZ) residues in edible animal foods (pig muscle, chicken muscle, egg, fish, milk and liver), a competitive direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a colloidal gold immunoassay were established. The limits of detection of the ELISA and the colloidal gold immunoassay were 0.02 and 0.5 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The specificity of the ELISA developed to the SMZ was high according to the results of cross-reactivity testing with 14 kinds of sulphonamides. To obtain a more sensitive immunoassay, buffer solution (30 mmol L⁻¹ phosphate-buffered saline with 0.05% Tween 20, pH 8.5) was optimized through the whole test procedure. A simple and efficient extraction method for the rapid detection of SMZ residues in foods was developed, with recoveries between 74 and 117.5%. Matrix effects can be avoided by 1:10 dilution of pig muscle, chicken muscle, egg, fish, milk and liver with optimal buffer. The detection limit of SMZ was 5 μg kg⁻¹ in liver and 2 μg kg⁻¹ in the other five samples. For the validation of the ELISA tests, sample extracts were analysed by ELISA and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained by these two methods showed a good correlation (r ²) which was greater than 0.9. The colloidal gold immunoassay presented in this assay was successfully applied to determine SMZ in pig muscle, milk and fish below or equal to the maximum residue level (20 μg kg⁻¹).     

气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱同位素内标法测定鱼样中20种多氯联苯

建立了一种气相色谱-三重四极杆质谱结合双稳定性同位素内标检测鱼样中多氯联苯的方法。采用自动索氏提取器提取样品中的多氯联苯,经一根复合净化柱净化后,采用质谱多反应监测模式检测,选取两个独立的离子对。分析了20种多氯联苯,包含7种指示性多氯联苯,从三氯联苯到八氯联苯每族3个化合物,九氯联苯和十氯联苯各一个,每族使用一个相同氯代程度的¹³C₁₂标记多氯联苯作为定量内标、2种回收内标。20种多氯联苯在33 min内流出,分离良好,线性范围为0.05~10 μg/L,相关系数r均在0.99以上,低、中、高3种水平的加标回收率均在80.3%~117.6%之间,相对标准偏差（RSD,n=6）在5.09%~18.5%之间,方法检出限为0.01~0.02 μg/kg。20种多氯联苯总量在1.2~8.8 μg/kg（湿重）范围内,7个指示性多氯联苯总量在0.68~6.4 μg/kg（湿重）范围内。该方法缩短了分析时间,减少了有机溶剂的使用量,适合鱼样中多氯联苯的测定。     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of pilocarpine in plasma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure requiring neither derivatization nor complex sample work-up is reported for reproducibly and sensitively determining pilocarpine in plasma. Following stabilization of pilocarpine against in vitro hydrolysis using sodium fluoride, plasma samples were extracted and the extracts chromatographed on a 5-microns, low-carbon-load (6%) C18 reversed-phase column. The assay was linear between 10 and 300 ng/ml (r = 0.998). It had sufficient sensitivity to quantitate pilocarpine at concentrations as low as 10 ng/ml (signal-to-noise ratio > or = 4) using a 500-microliters sample. The assay appears to be the first published specifically for plasma determinations and has proven capable of supporting pharmacokinetics studies of pilocarpine disposition in the anesthetized dog.     

A rapid and simple assay for lamotrigine in serum/plasma by HPLC,and comparison with an immunoassay

Monitoring serum/plasma concentrations of lamotrigine may be useful under certain circumstances. An HPLC column packed with strong cation‐exchange (SCX)‐modified microparticulate silica together with a 100% methanol eluent containing an ionic modifier permits direct injection of sample extracts. An HPLC‐UV method developed using this principle for the measurement of serum/plasma lamotrigine is simple, sensitive and selective. The analysis time is less than 5 min. Intra‐ and inter‐assay precision and accuracy meet acceptance criteria, and sample stability, and potential interferences from other compounds have been evaluated. There was good agreement with consensus mean results from external quality assessment samples (n = 32). Analysis of patient samples (n = 115) using the HPLC method and the Seradyn QMS® Lamotrigine immunoassay showed that the immunoassay over‐estimated lamotrigine by 21% on average. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biosensor immunoassay for flumequine in broiler serum and muscle

Flumequine (Flu) is one of the fluoroquinolones most frequently applied for the treatment of broilers in The Netherlands. For the detection of residues of Flu in blood serum of broilers, a biosensor immunoassay (BIA) was developed which was fast (7.5 min per sample) and specific (no cross-reactivity with other (fluoro)quinolones). This inhibition assay was based on a rabbit polyclonal anti-Flu serum and a CM5 biosensor chip coated with Flu which could be detected in the range of 15-800 ng mL(-1). For the detection of Flu in muscle, an easy extraction procedure in buffer was selected and the measuring range was from 24 to 4000 ng g(-1). Average recoveries of 66 till 75% were found with muscle samples spiked at 0.5, 1 and 2 times the maximum residue limit (MRL in muscle = 400 ng g(-1)) and the decision limit (CCalpha) and the detection capability (CCbeta) were determined as 500 and 600 ng g(-1), respectively. Incurred muscle samples were analysed by the BIA and by LC-MS/MS and a good correlation was found (R2 = 0.998). Serum and muscle samples from with Flu treated broilers were analysed and the concentrations found in serum were always higher than those found in muscle (average serum/muscle ratio was 3.5) and this proved the applicability of the BIA in serum as predictor of the Flu concentration in muscle.     

Levels of coplanar PCB in flue gases of high temperature processes and their occurrence in environmental samples

Summary Coplanar PCB (IUPAC nrs. 77, 126 and 169) have been determined in samples of flue gases and solid wastes from high-temperature processes, and soils and sediment.TEQ-levels of coplanar PCB present have been compared with those of PCDD/PCDF in the samples. It is found that, while in the flue gas samples coplanar PCB contribute less than 10% to the total TEQ level, soils and sediment may contain higher levels (up to 30% of the total TEQ for the samples analyzed).Moreover the pattern of PCB in the samples from high-temperature processes apparently differs considerably from that in the soils and sediment, in which PCB 77 constitutes >70% of the coplanar PCB.     

Rapid Chromatography for the Determination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls by GC-MS in Environmental Monitoring

A method for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in environmental and biological materials has been developed. This method includes rapid chromatography requiring less than 10 min using an HT-8 capillary column at 30 m × 0.25 mm i.d. Rapid chromatography was performed using a column temperature gradient from 80 to 310°C at a rate of 40°C/min. Low-resolution mass spectrometry in single ion monitoring mode of simultaneous detection of 12 target ions is suggested for detection of PCBs peaks. The method not only enabled us to reduce time of analysis but also to increase the efficiency of separating PCB peaks from interferences and to reduce levels of detection of analytes resulting in a minimized sample preparation stage. The last includes extraction of the PCBs using organic solvents, preliminary alkaline hydrolysis in the case of biological objects, and cleaning up the extracts on compact cartridges. The method was tested in monitoring studies for these contaminants in soils, sediments, snow cover, fish tissues, and seal blubber. Total PCBs and isomer congener groups of the same chlorination degree and seven indicator congeners (IUPAC No.'s 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) are determined with a high degree of certainty. The PCB concentrations were in the range of 1–700 ng/g dry weight for environmental samples and 500–25000 ng/g lipids for biota. The method yields measurements of total PCBs and isomer groups with a precision no greater than 10% and no greater than 15% for the indicator congeners.     

Multidimensional gas chromatographic separation of selected PCB atropisomers in technical formulations and sediments

A simple dual-column gas chromatographic system with a six-port switching valve has been used to separate the atropisomers of PCB congeners 84, 91, and 95 in technical PCB formulations and in extracts of soil and river sediment. A capillary column coated with a methylphenylsiloxane stationary phase (CP-Sil 8) was used as the first column, for retention window selection, and a permethylated β-cyclodextrin (ChirasilDex) capillary column as the main separation column. Because peak overlap could not be eliminated by optimization of column temperature, the enantiomeric ratios of PCB congeners could not be determined from the original chromatograms. The correct enantiomer ratio was determined from the peak areas obtained by deconvolution of the chromatograms. Whereas the PCB atropisomers considered were present in equal concentrations in the technical PCB formulations, analysis of a river sediment sample confirmed different residual concentrations of the atropisomers of congener 95.     

鱼肉组织中多溴联苯醚的定量分析

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类广泛用于家用电器、电子产品、塑料泡沫、家居装饰材料等行业的添加型阻燃剂[1],使用量最多的是五溴联苯醚(penta-BDE),八溴联苯醚(octa-BDE)和十溴联苯醚(deca-BDE)3种[2]。最近的研究表明[4-6],多溴联苯醚已广泛地存在于各种环境介质、生物体及人体中     

Determination of aculeatisides based on immunoassay using a polyclonal antibody against aculeatiside A

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for determination of aculeatisides. Aculeatiside A was conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) for immunization. The ratio of hapten in an antigen conjugate was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization TOF mass spectrometry. Polyclonal antibody was developed in rabbits against an aculeatiside A-BSA conjugate. The antibody was specific for aculeatiside A and aculeatiside B. The range of the immunoassay extended from 100 ng ml(-1) to 5 pg ml(-1) of aculeatisides. Good correlation between ELISA and HPLC methods was obtained when crude extracts of plant samples were analyzed. The optimized ELISA was found to be applicable to the determination of total aculeatisides in various plant samples.     

Determination of pesticides by enzyme immunoassay

Immunochemical methods of analysis, which are based on the binding of an antigen (pesticide) molecule to specific antibodies, are finding increasing use for determining pesticides in various samples (water, soil, food products, and biological fluids). Among these, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which combines the unique specificity of immunoassay with the high sensitivity of the detection of an enzymatic marker, is the most widely used method. Moreover, in ELISA, the components of an immunochemical reaction are separated; as a consequence, the effect of interfering components in the sample (a so-called matrix effect) is reduced. In this review, the principles of enzyme immunoassay for pesticides are considered, and the determination of pesticides in environmental samples and food products is exemplified. The main directions of the further development of immunoassay techniques for determining pesticides are also discussed.Translated from Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 3, 2005, pp. 230–246.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Morozova, Levashova, Eremin.     

An electrochemical ELISA procedure for the screening of 17beta-estradiol in urban waste waters

A sensitive electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used for the detection of 17beta-estradiol in waste waters. The activity of the label enzyme (horseradish peroxidase) was measured electrochemically using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine as electrochemical substrate. The detection limit was estimated to be 5 pg mL(-1), interday and intraday precision (RSD), ranged from 1 to 3% and from 3 to 6%, respectively. Analysis of waste waters from three different treatment plants demonstrated no matrix effect both for samples diluted 1:1 in buffer and diethyl ether extracted. Data on 36 samples analysed by an LC-ESI-MS-MS procedure and by the electrochemical ELISA assay were compared. Results correlated well. The electrochemical enzyme immunoassay appears suitable as a screening tool for analysis of estradiol in waste waters.     

PCDD, PCDF, and PCB contamination of air and inhalable particulate in Rome

Summary The isomer specific determination of PCDD, PCDF and PCB was carried out on samples of air and inhalable particulate from Rome. Samples were taken daily for six months and pooled to yield two samples per month. Normal PCDD+PCDF concentrations expressed in TEQ ranged from 48 to 87 fg/m³, while total PCB ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 ng/m³. The 2, 3, 7, 8-substituted PCDD and PCDF congener pattern is shown together with the PCB congener pattern.     

Triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry: A real alternative to high resolution magnetic sector instrument for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,furans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls

This paper reports on the optimisation, characterisation, validation and applicability of gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in its tandem operation mode (GC-QqQ(MS/MS) for the quantification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs, dioxins) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in environmental and food matrices. MS/MS parameters were selected to achieve the high sensitivity and selectivity required for the analysis of this type of compounds and samples. Good repeatability for areas (RSD = 1–10%, for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs) and for ion transition ratios (RSD = 0.3–10%, for PCDD/Fs, and 0.2–15%, for DL-PCBs) and low instrumental limits of detection, 0.07–0.75 pg μL⁻¹ (for dioxins) and 0.05–0.63 pg μL⁻¹ (for DL-PCBs), were obtained. A comparative study of the congener specific determination using both GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was also performed by analysing several fortified samples and certified reference materials (CRMs) with low (feed and foodstuffs), median (sewage sludge) and high (fly ash) toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentration levels, i.e. 0.60, 1.83, 72.9 and 3609 pg WHO-TEQ(PCDD/Fs) g⁻¹. The agreement between the results obtained for the total TEQs (dioxins) on GC-QqQ(MS/MS) and GC-HRMS in all the investigated samples were within the range of ±4%, and that of DL-PCBs at concentration levels of 0.84 pg WHO-TEQs (DL-PCBs) g⁻¹, in the case of feedstuffs, was 0.11%. Both instrumental methods have similar and comparable linearity, precision and accuracy. The GC-QqQ(MS/MS) sensitivity, lower than that of GC-HRMS, is good enough (iLODs in the down to low pg levels) to detect the normal concentrations of these compounds in food and environmental samples. These results make GC-QqQ(MS/MS) suitable for the quantitative analysis of dioxins and DL-PCBs and a real alternative tool to the reference sector HRMS instruments.