Development and validation of a multiclass method for the analysis of antibiotic residues in eggs by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A multiclass method for the analysis of residues, in egg matrices, of 41 antimicrobial agents belonging to seven families (sulfonamides, diaminopyridine derivates, quinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, penicillins and lincosamides) was developed and validated according to the requirements of European Commission Decision 2002/657. Compounds were extracted with a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technique using a 1:1 mixture of acetonitrile and a succinic acid buffer (pH 6.0) at 70 °C. As this resulted in clear extracts, no further clean-up was necessary. Analytes were determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPL–MS/MS) in a chromatographic run of 13 min. Calibration was carried out with spiked blank samples subjected to the entire analytical procedure. Five compounds, two of them isotopically labelled, were used as internal standards. Most analytes were quantified with errors below 10%. Precision in terms of reproducibility standard deviation was between 10% and 20% in most cases. CCα values were in the range 0.5–3.8 μg kg⁻¹ for the non-authorized compounds. The proposed method would enable an experienced analyst to process about 25 samples per day.     

Food contaminant analysis at high resolution mass spectrometry: application for the determination of veterinary drugs in milk

Veterinary drugs (VDs) can remain in milk as a consequence of their use in livestock. In order to control the levels of VD residues in milk, screening methodologies can be applied for a rapid discrimination among negative and non-negative samples. In a second stage, non-negative samples are classified as negative or positive samples by using a confirmation method. Pre-target screening methods in low resolution MS (LRMS) are normally applied, but the number of analytes is limited, whereas the information obtained by full scan acquisition in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is improved. Here, three screening methods (running time<4 min) based on Orbitrap, quadrupole-time of flight (QqTOF) and triple quadrupole (QqQ) have been compared, using in all cases ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). For HRMS, the identification of the VDs was based on retention time (RT) and accurate mass measurements. Confirmation was based on the monitoring of fragments generated without precursor selection. The performance characteristics of the screening method provided reliable information regarding the presence or absence of the compounds below an established value, including uncertainty region and cut-off values. Better results in terms of cut-off values (≤ 5.0 μg kg(-1), except for spiramycin with a cut-off of 13.4 μg kg(-1) for milk samples and 43.1 μg kg(-1) for powdered milk based, emamectin with a cut-off of 42.2 μg kg(-1) for milk samples and doxycycline, with a cut-off value of 15.8 μg kg(-1) in powdered milk-based infant formulae) and uncertainty region were obtained using the Orbitrap-based screening method, which was submitted to further validation and used to analyze different real milk samples. The proposed method can be used in routine analysis, providing reliable results.     

QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定鸡蛋中125种兽药残留

采用冷冻脂质过滤,结合分散固相萃取净化的QuEChERS方法,建立了超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定鸡蛋中125种兽药残留的检测方法。样品中的11类兽药（硝基咪唑类、苯并咪唑类、磺胺类、喹诺酮类、四环素类、大环内酯类、雄激素类、孕激素类、糖皮质醇类、雌激素类、氯霉素类）用70%（v/v）乙腈-水溶液（含0.1 mol/L EDTA）提取后,提取液在-20℃冷冻处理2 h,再经分散固相萃取法净化,净化液经稀释后,以超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定,外标法定量。结果显示125种兽药的线性相关系数R²≥0.99,定量限范围为2.0~60 μg/kg,回收率在60.4%~119.3%之间,相对标准偏差在0.3%~16.1%之间。该方法前处理简单、准确、成本较低,适用于鸡蛋中兽药残留的高通量快速检测分析。     

Single‐step multiresidue determination of ten multiclass veterinary drugs in pork,milk, and eggs using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A multiclass, multiresidue determination method is reported for the detection of ten veterinary drugs, including scopolamine, metoclopramide, acriflavine, berberine, tripelennamine, diphenhydramine, acrinol, triamcinolone, loperamide, and roxithromycin in pork, milk, and eggs. The method involves a simple extraction using 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile, followed by defatting with n‐hexane, centrifugation, and filtration prior to liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric analysis. As ion suppression and enhancement effects are reported, matrix‐matched calibrations are used for quantification, with determination coefficients ≥0.9765. For the majority of the tested analytes, the intra‐ and interday accuracy (expressed as recovery %) range from 70.6 to 94.6% and from 70.1 to 93.3%, respectively, and the precision (expressed as relative standard deviation) ranges from 0.5 to 19.8% and from 2.8 to 18.4% in all matrices. The limits of quantification range between 0.5 and 10 ng/g. The validated tandem mass spectrometry method is successfully applied to market samples; the target analytes are not detected in any of the tested samples. In terms of accuracy, no extract cleanup is deemed necessary. The developed method is feasible for the simultaneous detection of the tested analytes in pork, milk, and eggs.     

分散固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定畜禽肉中63种兽药残留

建立了分散固相萃取-高效液相色谱-串联质谱(dispersive-SPE-HPLC-MS/MS)同时测定畜禽肉中 β-内酰胺类、喹诺酮类、磺胺类、磺胺类增效剂和抗寄生虫类共5类63种兽药残留的新方法。样品经0.1 mol/L Na₂EDTA溶液及含1% (体积分数)乙酸的乙腈溶液涡旋提取,提取液经C18分散固相萃取净化后,用Poroshell EC-C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 2.4 μm)分离,在电喷雾离子源正离子模式下以动态多反应监测(DMRM)方式采集数据并做定性筛查和定量分析。63种药物在相应的浓度范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.99;不同畜禽肉(猪肉、牛肉及鸡肉)在3个不同添加水平下的平均回收率为62.2%~112.0%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为3.1%~16.3%,检出限(LOD, S/N≥3)和定量限(LOQ, S/N≥10)分别为0.1~3.0 μg/kg和0.5~10.0 μg/kg。该方法简便快速、灵敏可靠,适用于畜禽产品中兽药多残留的同时快速定性筛查和定量分析。     

Efficient hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the multiclass analysis of veterinary drugs in chicken muscle

A simple and sensitive method has been developed for multiresidue analysis of 24 important veterinary drugs (including 3 aminoglycosides, 3 β-lactams, 2 lincosamides, 4 macrolides, 4 quinolones, 4 sulfonamides, 3 tetracyclines, and amprolium) in chicken muscle. The method involved a simple extraction using (1:1, v/v) of 2% trichloroacetic acid in water-acetonitrile, followed by removing fat with hexane, dilution of sample extract, and filtration prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) proved to be very effective for separation of a wide range of polar and hydrophilic compounds (providing high sensitivity and good peak shape) compared to reversed phase and ion-pair separation. The method was successfully validated according to the European Decision 2002/657/EC. Average recoveries were 53-99% at 0.5-MRL, MRL, and 1.5-MRL spiking levels, with satisfactory precision ≤15% RSD. The limit of detection of the method was 0.1-10 μgkg(-1) for 22 analytes and 20 μgkg(-1) for aminoglycosides. These values were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Union. The evaluated method provides reliable screening, quantification, and identification of 24 veterinary drug residues in foods of animal origin. It has been successfully tested in real samples (such as chicken muscle, shrimp, and egg).     

QuEChERS结合液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定猪肉中多类兽药残留

采用改进的QuEChERS方法提取和净化猪肉样品,建立了同时测定磺胺类、磺胺类增效剂、β-受体激动剂、四环素类、喹诺酮类、金刚烷胺和性激素共7类35种兽药残留的液相色谱-串联质谱（LC-MS/MS）检测方法。样品经 Na₂EDTA（乙二胺四乙酸）-Mcllvaine缓冲液-2.5%（体积分数）乙酸乙腈溶液提取,提取液经盐析后取乙腈相,用氨基（NH₂）吸附剂分散固相萃取净化后,在电喷雾离子源正离子多反应监测（MRM）模式下进行测定,基质外标法定量。35种兽药在1.0～50.0 μg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.996。在3个不同添加水平下的平均回收率为71.8%～113.5%,相对标准偏差为0.6%～9.8%（n=6）,检出限和定量限分别为0.01～1.01 μg/kg和0.04～3.37 μg/kg。该方法操作简单,净化效果好,灵敏度高,适用于猪肉中兽药多残留的同时快速定性、定量分析。     

QuEChERS-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时检测猪肉中121种兽药

建立了QuEChERS结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)同时检测猪肉中 β -激动剂类、氯霉素类、阿维菌素类、磺胺类、氟喹诺酮类、硝基咪唑类、头孢类、四环素类、大环内酯类和聚醚类等10余类121种兽药的分析方法。样品经Na₂EDTA-McIlvaine缓冲溶液(pH=4)和乙腈提取,无水硫酸钠盐析,上清液分为两组,分别用不同的QuEChERS净化剂净化。使用电喷雾离子(ESI)源,在多反应监测(MRM)扫描模式下检测。5种兽药采用内标法定量,其余116种兽药采用外标法定量。121种兽药在0.02~40 μg/L范围内线性关系良好(r>0.99),定量限(S/N=10)为0.05~10 μg/kg。LOQ加标水平下,121种兽药中8种兽药的回收率为41.7%~59.6%,相对标准偏差为1.7%~13.5%; 10种兽药的回收率为122.6%~163.2%,相对标准偏差为0.6%~14.8%;其余103种兽药的回收率为60.3%~118.3%,相对标准偏差为0.4%~16.7%。该方法可对性质差别大的多类别兽药同时进行分析,在节约成本和保证检测周期方面具有突出的优势。     

Multi-class determination of around 50 pharmaceuticals, including 26 antibiotics, in environmental and wastewater samples by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A multi-class method for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of 47 pharmaceuticals in environmental and wastewater samples has been developed. The target list of analytes included analgesic and anti-inflammatories, cholesterol lowering statin drugs and lipid regulators, antidepressants, anti-ulcer agents, psychiatric drugs, ansiolitics, cardiovasculars and a high number (26) of antibiotics from different chemical groups. A common pre-concentration step based on solid-phase extraction with Oasis HLB cartridges was applied, followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) measurement. All compounds were satisfactorily determined in just one single injection, with a chromatographic run time of only 10 min. The process efficiency (combination of the matrix effect and the extraction process recovery) for the 47 selected compounds was evaluated in nine effluent wastewater (EWW) samples, and the use of different isotope-labelled internal standards (ILIS) was investigated to correct unsatisfactory values. Up to 12 ILIS were evaluated in EWW and surface water (SW). As expected, the ILIS provided satisfactory correction for their own analytes. However, the use of these ILIS for the rest of pharmaceuticals was problematic in some cases. Despite this fact, the correction with analogues ILIS was found useful for most of analytes in EWW, while was not strictly required in the SW tested. The method was successfully validated in SW and EWW at low concentration levels, as expected for pharmaceuticals in these matrices (0.025, 0.1 and 0.5 μg/L in SW; 0.1 and 0.5 μg/L in EWW). With only a few exceptions, the instrumental limits of detection varied between 0.1 and 8 pg. The limits of quantification were estimated from sample chromatograms at the lowest spiked levels tested and normally were below 20 ng/L for SW and below 50 ng/L for EWW. The developed method was applied to the analysis of around forty water samples (river waters and effluent wastewaters) from the Spanish Mediterranean region. Almost all the pharmaceuticals selected in this work were detected, mainly in effluent wastewater. In both matrices, analgesics and anti-inflammatories, lipid regulators and quinolone antibiotics were the most detected groups.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定茶叶中游离氨基酸成分

建立了使用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UHPLC-MS/MS）高效、快速直接测定茶叶中游离氨基酸的方法。通过对质谱、色谱条件及氨基酸提取条件的优化，以含0.2%（体积分数）甲酸的5 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液和甲醇为流动相进行梯度洗脱，在电喷雾离子（ESI）源正离子扫描模式下检测，通过UHPLC-MS/MS测定，共解析了茶叶中的20种氨基酸。结果表明，茶氨酸（Thea）、Arg、Asn和Asp在50~500 μg/L范围内线性关系良好，其他氨基酸在10~250 μg/L范围内线性关系良好，相关系数均大于0.99；加标回收率为92.3%~109.2%，相对标准偏差为2.00%~9.88%，检出限为0.001~0.011 mg/L，定量限为0.010~0.053 mg/L。该方法灵敏、准确，具有良好的重复性和稳定性，可有效检测出茶叶中的20种氨基酸及氨基类成分。     

基于整体材料的微流控芯片反相液相色谱-串联质谱平台用于蛋白质分析

微流控芯片高效液相色谱-串联质谱系统具有高通量、高灵敏度等优点,已成为生物样品分析的热点领域之一。本文在玻璃芯片上以甲基丙烯酸十二酯(LMA)和三羟甲基丙烷三甲基丙烯酸酯(TMPTMA)为单体,制备了以聚丙烯酸酯整体材料为固定相的捕集柱和分离柱。通过在芯片通道末端连接细内径的毛细管作为芯片-质谱接口,并以常规的液相色谱泵和微阀控制流体,构建了芯片反相液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(RPLC-ESI-MS/MS)平台,并将其用于分析牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的酶解产物。经过3次平行分析,BSA的序列覆盖率分别为39.37%、37.89%和34.10%(相对标准偏差为7.3%)。采用不同批次制作的芯片构建RPLC-ESI-MS/MS平台,对BSA酶解产物进行分析,其序列覆盖率相当。上述结果表明,该平台具有灵敏度高和重现性好等优点,有望用于蛋白质样品的快速分离和高灵敏度鉴定。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定牛尿液中的甲状腺抑制剂(英文)

Five thyreostats(TSs),namely tapazole,thiouracil,methylthiouracil,propylthiouracil,and phenylthiouracil,were determined in bovine urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-MS/MS)in positive electrospray ionization mode.Extraction and clean-up were achieved using a ChemElut cartridge with tert-butyl methyl ether,without a derivatization step.Separation was achieved on an Acquity UPLC SS T3 column.The mobile phase was acetonitrile and water containing 0.2%(v/v)formic acid.The mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode.Urine samples were spiked with TS solution at levels corresponding to 5,10,15,and 20μg/L.The accuracy(internal standard corrected)ranged from 92%to 107%,with a repeatability precision(relative standard deviation,RSD)less than 15%for all five analytes.The RSDs within-laboratory reproducibility was less than 26%.The decision limits(CCα)and detection capabilities(CCβ)were obtained from a calibration curve and were in the ranges of 3.1-6.1μg/L and 4.0-7.4μg/L,respectively.The CCαand CCβvalues were below the recommended concentration,which was set at 10μg/L.The results show that the described method is suitable for the direct detection of TSs in bovine urine.This method can also be used to determine TSs in porcine urine.     

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: a novel challenge in multiresidue pesticide analysis in food

Potential of ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) separation strategy coupled with tandem (in space) mass spectrometric detection (MS/MS) in multiresidue pesticide analysis was critically assessed. Performance parameters such as number of theoretical plates, height of theoretical plate, peak symmetry and peak capacity were measured/calculated on the basis of data generated by analysis of apple extracts containing 17 (semi)polar pesticides representing various classes of active ingredients of widely used crop protective preparations. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) procedure provided improved chromatographic parameters resulting in significantly increased sample throughput including lower solvent consumption and lower limits of quantitation (LOQs) for most of target analytes compared to common method employing conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation.     

QuEChERS结合液相色谱-串联质谱法快速测定奶酪中多类兽药残留

建立了一种快速测定奶酪中大环内酯类、磺胺类、喹诺酮类和四环素类共50种兽药残留的分析方法。方法采用改进后的QuEChERS对奶酪进行前处理。样品在加入Na₂EDTA缓冲液和陶瓷均质子后,在5%(v/v)醋酸乙腈条件下进行振荡提取,氯化钠和无水硫酸钠用于盐析,经C₁₈吸附剂净化后,供液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)测定。目标化合物经ZORBAX-SB-C₁₈柱梯度分离,在正离子动态多反应监测模式下进行检测。结果表明,奶酪中50种兽药的定量限(LOQ)为0.05~20 μg/kg;在3个添加浓度(20、50、100 μg/kg)下(n=6),平均回收率在70%~120%范围内的比例分别为94%、92%和96%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1%~14%。对市售的7个样品进行测定,其中两个样品分别检出了微量的罗红霉素和氟甲喹兽药残留。该方法快速简便,适用于奶酪中兽药残留的快速检测和日常监控。     

Development of an economic ultrafast liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for trace analysis of multiclass mycotoxins in Polygonum multiflorum

Rapid, economic, and highly effective determination of multiple mycotoxins in complex matrices has given huge challenges for the analytical method. In this study, an economic analytical strategy based on sensitive and rapid ultrafast liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry technique was developed for the determination of seven mycotoxins of different chemical classes (aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂, ochratoxin A, T‐2 toxin, and HT‐2 toxin) in Polygonum multiflorum. Target mycotoxins were completely extracted using a modified quick, easy, cheap effective, rugged, and safe method without additional clean‐up steps. The types of extraction solvents and adsorbents for the extraction procedure were optimized to achieve high recoveries and reduce coextractives in the final extracts. Due to significant matrix effects for all analytes (≤68.9% and ≥110.0%), matrix‐matched calibration curves were introduced for reliable quantification, exploring excellent linearity for the seven mycotoxins with coefficients of determination >0.9992. The method allowed high sensitivity with limit of detection in the range of 0.031–2.5 μg/kg and limit of quantitation in the range of 0.078–6.25 μg/kg, as well as satisfactory precision with relative standard deviations lower than 8%. Recovery rates were between 74.3 and 119.8% with relative standard deviations below 7.43%. The proposed method was successfully applied for 24 batches of P. multiflorum samples, and six samples were found to be positive with aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, or ochratoxin A. The method with significant advantages, including minimum analytical time, low time and solvent consumption, and high sensitivity, would be a preferred candidate for economic analysis of multiclass mycotoxins in complex matrices.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法定量分析烟叶中的12种类黄酮物质

类黄酮物质是烟草非常重要的次生代谢物。本研究建立了一种烟叶中12种类黄酮物质的定量分析方法,相对于传统方法增加了10种类黄酮物质的定量分析。采用甲醇-水-氯仿(5 : 2 : 2, v/v/v)对类黄酮物质进行提取和色素剔除,采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱进行分析,整个仪器分析时间为13 min。该方法对所有被测类黄酮物质的线性相关系数(r²)均高于0.99,检出限在0.3~100 μg/L之间,定量限在1.2~400 μg/L之间,日内重复性在3.5%~7.4%之间,日间重复性在5.2%~11.4%之间,回收率在81.2%~111.9%之间,符合定量分析要求。将该方法应用于11种不同品种烟草的类黄酮物质检测,发现不同烟草之间的类黄酮物质含量相差很大,而结构相似的类黄酮物质在烟叶中的含量分布存在显著的正相关关系。     

Multiclass method for the quantification of 92 veterinary antimicrobial drugs in livestock excreta,wastewater, and surface water by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A simple multiresidue method was developed for detecting and quantifying 92 veterinary antimicrobial drugs from eight classes (β‐lactams, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, lincomycins, macrolides, chloramphenicols, and pleuromutilin) in livestock excreta and water by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The feces samples were extracted by ultrasound‐assisted extraction with a mixture of acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v) and edetate disodium, followed by a cleanup using solid‐phase extraction with an amino cartridge. Water samples were purified with hydrophilic–lipophilic balance solid‐phase extraction column. Urine samples were extracted with acetonitrile and edetate disodium. Detection of veterinary antimicrobial drugs was achieved by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry using both positive and negative electrospray ionization mode. The recovery values of veterinary antimicrobial drugs in feces, urine, and water samples were 75–99, 85–110, and 85–101% and associated relative standard deviations were less than 15, 10, and 8%, respectively. The limits of quantification in feces, urine, and water samples were 0.5–1, 0.5–1, and 0.01–0.05 μg/L, respectively. This method was applied to determine real samples obtained from local farms and provides reliable quantification and identification results of 92 veterinary antimicrobial drugs in livestock excreta and water.     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱快速测定食品中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联三重四极杆质谱快速筛查和确证食品中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜的方法。样品经甲醇-水（50：50,v/v）超声提取,离心,取上清液过滤膜。采用Agilent SB-C18（150 mm×2.1 mm,5 μm）色谱柱分离,梯度洗脱,在电喷雾离子源的正离子电离模式下,用多反应监测（MRM）方式采集数据,根据保留时间和定性离子对进行定性筛查,根据峰面积和定量离子进行定量分析。结果表明：方法检出限（LOD）为0.03 mg/kg（信噪比S/N ≥ 3）,定量限（LOQ）为0.10 mg/kg（S/N ≥ 10）,回收率为80.3%~98.0%,在0.01~1.0 mg/L范围内均有良好的线性,相关系数r²均大于0.997。该方法快速、简便易行、灵敏、准确,适用于饮料、酸奶和果冻中的新品种甜味剂爱德万甜的批量检测。     

Multi-residue quantification of veterinary drugs in milk with a novel extraction and cleanup technique: Salting out supported liquid extraction (SOSLE)

A quantitative liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of more than one hundred compounds belonging to a variety of veterinary drug classes in bovine milk. Salting out supported liquid extraction (SOSLE), a novel extraction and cleanup technique, was introduced to ensure high extraction efficiency and good sample cleanup. The high salt (ammonium sulfate) concentration in the aqueous donor phase permits supported liquid/liquid extraction (SLE) with a relative polar organic acceptor phase (acetonitrile). This is different from traditional SLE, in which the need for phase separation results in the selection of organic solvents with intermediate polarities (e.g., ethyl acetate or dichloromethane). Hence, SOSLE is more efficient in recovering polar analytes than conventional SLE. SOSLE was also compared to classical approaches like solid phase extraction, QuEChERS and ultra-filtration. The proposed technique resulted in extracts of equal or superior cleanliness and with higher average recoveries than those obtained with QuEChERS or SPE. The recovery (median for all compounds) was 73% for QuEChERS, 83% for SPE and 91% for SOSLE. The most significant improvements were observed for polar analytes (penicillines, quinolones and tetracyclines) which are hardly recovered by QuEChERS. The chromatographic separation and detection was based on an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap system (Q-Exactive plus). The developed analytical method has been validated (based on the commission decision 2002/957/EC) as required for quantitative veterinary drug methods.     

Multi-residue screening of veterinary drugs in egg,fish and meat using high-resolution liquid chromatography accurate mass time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The last 2 years multi-compound methods are gaining ground as screening methods. In this study a high-resolution liquid chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HRLC–ToF-MS) is tested for the screening of about 100 veterinary drugs in three matrices, meat, fish and egg. While the results are satisfactory for 70–90% of the veterinary drugs, a more efficient sample preparation or extract purification is required for quantitative analysis of all analytes in more difficult matrices like egg. The average mass measurement error of the ToF-MS for the veterinary drugs spiked at concentrations ranging from 4 to 400 μg/kg, is 3.0 ppm (median 2.5 ppm) with little difference between the three matrices, but slightly decreases with increasing concentration. The SigmaFit value, a new feature for isotope pattern matching, also decreases with increasing concentration and, in addition, shows an increase with increasing matrix complexity. While the average SigmaFit value is 0.04, the median is 0.01 indicating some high individual deviations. As with the mass measurement error, the highest deviations are found in those regions of the chromatogram where most compounds elute from the column, be it analytes or matrix compounds. The median repeatability of the method ranges from 8% to 15%, decreasing with increasing concentration, while the median reproducibility ranges from 15% to 20% with little difference between matrices and concentrations. The median accuracy is in between 70% and 100% with a few compounds showing higher values due to matrix interference. The squared regression coefficient is >0.99 for 92% of the compounds showing a good overall linearity for most compounds. The detection capability, CCβ, is within 2 times the associated validation level for >90% of the compounds studied. By changing a few conditions in the analyses protocol and analysing a number of blank samples, it was determined that the method is robust as well as specific. Finally, an alternative validation strategy is proposed and tested for screening methods. While the results calculated for repeatability, within-lab reproducibility and CCβ show a good comparison for the matrices meat and fish, and a reasonable comparison for the matrix egg, only 27 analyses are required to obtain these results versus 63 analysis in the traditional, 2002/657/EC, approach. This alternative is suggested as a cost-effective validation procedure for screening methods.