Comparison Between Methyl and Trimethylsilyl Ester Derivatives in the Separation and GC Quantification of Triterpene Acids in Eugenia brasiliensis Leaf Extract

This study details a method to characterize the triterpene acid-rich extract obtained from the defatted leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis (Myrtaceae) via extraction with 2 % NaOH in ethanol at room temperature. The crude extract (yield 2.35 %) was submitted to analysis by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) confirming ursolic acid as its major compound. The optimal conditions for the separation of oleanolic, betulinic and ursolic acids were assayed by GC with flame ionization detection (GC–FID) using two different columns (DB-5 and DB-17HT) and by applying two distinct derivatizing protocols. The use of a DB-17HT column led to the best results, with a shorter runtime and a better resolution (Rs) between the oleanolic and betulinic signals for both the bis-trimethylsilyl (Rs 2.84) and methyl ester derivatives (Rs 2.47). A DB-5 column also gave satisfactory results for the TMS ester, with a runtime of 30 min and Rs 2.14. Ursolic acid in the crude extract was quantified by comparison to two individual standard curves determined using commercial ursolic as its TMS derivative on the DB-5 column and its methyl ester on the DB-17HT column. Good linearity was achieved in both cases (r ² = 0.9776 and 0.9953, respectively), and the amounts of ursolic acid in the extracts were calculated to be 144.7 and 147.9 mg·g^?1, respectively. These results showed no significant differences when compared using Tukey’s HSD test. Total triterpene acids amounted to 0.52 % in E. brasiliensis dry leaves.     

Immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography using post-column bromination for determination of aflatoxin B1 in cattle feed: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column cleanup liquid chromatography (LC) method for determination of aflatoxin B1 in cattle feed at a possible future European regulatory limit (1 ng/g). The test portion was extracted with acetone-water (85 + 15), filtered, diluted with water, and applied to an immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with water to remove interfering compounds, and the purified aflatoxin B1 was eluted with methanol. Aflatoxin B1 was separated and determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) and detected by fluorescence after post column derivatization (PCD) involving bromination. PCD was achieved with either pyridinium hydrobromide perbromide (PBPB), used by 14 laboratories, or an electrochemical cell and addition of bromide to the mobile phase, used by 7 laboratories. Both derivatization techniques were not significantly different when compared by the t-test; the method was statistically evaluated for all laboratories together (bromination and PBPB). The cattle feed samples, both spiked and naturally contaminated with aflatoxin B1, were sent to 21 laboratories in 14 different countries (United States, Japan, and Europe). Test portions were spiked at levels of 1.2 and 3.6 ng/g for aflatoxin B1. Recoveries ranged from 74 to 157%. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 2 levels) as well as naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at 3 levels), the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 5.9 to 8.7%. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 17.5 to 19.6%. The method showed acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision for this matrix, as evidenced by HORRAT values, at the target levels of determination for aflatoxin B1. No major differences in RSD were observed, showing that the composition of the feeds was not a factor for the samples tested and that the method was applicable for all materials used.     

GC Determination of Cisplatin in Serum and Urine of Cancer Patients after Chemotherapy as Platinum (II) Pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate Chelate

A gas chromatographic procedure has been developed for determination of cisplatin from pharmaceutical preparation, serum and urine after chemotherapy of cancer patients as platinum(II) pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate chelate. The elution was carried from the column DB-1701 (30 m × 0.32 mm i.d.) coupled with FID detection. Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Zn(II) and VO(II) when present together with Pt(II) separated completely and did not affect the determination of platinum. The linear calibration curve for platinum (II) was within 1–30 μg mL^?1 with a detection limit of 300 ng mL^?1. The amount of cisplatin detected from serum and urine was 250–325 and 20–116 ng mL^?1 with relative standard deviations (RSD) of 0.8–1.2%, and 0.9–1.2%. The % recovery of Pt from serum and urine by standard addition was 98 and 98.2% with RSD 1.4 and 1.1%.     

Liquid chromatographic method for nicarbazin in broiler feeds and premixtures: development, validation, and interlaboratory study

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for nicarbazin in broiler feeds and premixtures was developed, validated, and interlaboratory studied. The extraction solvent was an acetonitrile-methanol (1 + 1) mixture. For feedingstuffs, water was also added. The 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide moiety of nicarbazin was detected at a wavelength of 350 nm. Recovery was > or =87%. At 20 mg/kg, the repeatability was 0.7% and the within-laboratory reproducibility was 2.7%. The limit of determination was <20 mg/kg. Other feed additives did not interfere in the assay that proved to be applicable to broiler feeds from different European Union countries. In an interlaboratory study, 4 positive broiler feeds, 1 blank pig feed, and 1 broiler premixture were analyzed by 19 laboratories using the method developed in this study. The relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) of the feedingstuffs (20-240 mg/kg) varied between 2.6 and 10.2%. The HORRAT ranged between 0.70 and 1.22. Recoveries were 91-108%. Three laboratories detected small signals in the blind blank samples, ranging from 0.4 to 2 mg/kg. For the premixture, acceptable results for reproducibility could only be obtained after the sample weight and volume of extraction had been doubled. To avoid excessive dilution of the extracts, the range of the calibration curve had also been doubled. With this modified method, the RSDr was 5.7% and the HORRAT was 1.95 (10 laboratories).     

Liquid chromatographic method to determine narasin in feedingstuffs and premixtures: development, validation, and interlaboratory study

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) method for narasin in feedingstuffs and premixtures was developed, validated, and interlaboratory studied. The extraction solvent was methanol-K2HPO4 solution (9 + 1, v/v). Narasin was detected at 600 nm after post-column derivatization with dimethylamino-benzaldehyde. Recovery was >90%. The repeatability (RSDr) in feed (20-140 mg/kg) ranged between 1.2 and 10.5%; the within-laboratory reproducibility (RSD(R)) ranged between 2.2 and 4.9%. The limit of determination was <20 mg/kg. Other feed additives did not interfere in the assay. The method showed ruggedness against changes in the composition of extraction solvent, eluent, and conditions for post-column reactions. In an interlaboratory study, 5 broiler feeds (4 positive, 1 blank) and 1 premixture were analyzed by 13 laboratories. The RSDr of the feedingstuffs (20-120 mg/kg) varied between 2.17 and 7.57%. The HORRAT ranged between 0.77 and 0.88, with recoveries between 82 and 104%. One laboratory detected small signals in the blank sample, calculated as 0.6 and 2.8 mg/kg. For the premixture, acceptable results for reproducibility could only be obtained after modification of the method: the RSDr was 4.42% and the HORRAT was 1.56 (12 laboratories).     

Determination of ochratoxin A in wine and beer by immunoaffinity column cleanup and liquid chromatographic analysis with fluorometric detection: collaborative study.

The accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility characteristics of a liquid chromatographic method for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in white wine, red wine, and beer were established in a collaborative study involving 18 laboratories in 10 countries. Blind duplicates of blank, spiked, and naturally contaminated materials at levels ranging from < or =0.01 to 3.00 ng/mL were analyzed. Wine and beer samples were diluted with a solution containing polyethylene glycol and sodium hydrogen carbonate, and the diluted samples were filtered and cleaned up on an immunoaffinity column. OTA was eluted with methanol and quantified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. Average recoveries from white wine, red wine, and beer ranged from 88.2 to 105.4% (at spiking levels ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL), from 84.3 to 93.1% (at spiking levels ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 ng/mL), and from 87.0 to 95.0% (at spiking levels ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 ng/mL), respectively. Relative standard deviations for within-laboratory repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 6.6 to 10.8% for white wine, from 6.5 to 10.8% for red wine, and from 4.7 to 16.5% for beer. Relative standard deviations for between-laboratories reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 13.1 to 15.9% for white wine, from 11.9 to 13.6% for red wine, and from 15.2 to 26.1% for beer. HORRAT values were < or =0.4 for the 3 matrixes.     

Determination of Atenolol in Pharmaceutical Preparations by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization and Mass Spectrometric Detection

The present work describes the methodology and validation of gas chromatography with flame ionization (FID) and mass spectrometric (MS) detection after derivatization with N-Methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) for determination of atenolol with an internal standard (metoprolol) in pharmaceutical preparations. The linearity was established over the concentration range of 0.5–20 μg/mL for GC/FID and 12.5–500 ng/mL for GC/MS method. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation was less than 4.72 and 5.80%, respectively. Limit of quantification was determined as 500 ng/mL and 12.5 ng/mL for GC/FID and GC/MS, respectively. No interference was found from tablet excipients at the selected assay conditions. Developed GC/FID and GC/MS methods in this study are accurate, sensitive, and precise and can be easily applied to Tensinor tablet as pharmaceutical preparation.     

GC Methods for the Determination of Methanol and Ethanol in Insulating Mineral Oils as Markers of Cellulose Degradation in Power Transformers

Methanol and ethanol in transformer oils have been recently proposed as new markers of thermal and mechanical degradation of cellulose (the solid insulation in power transformers). In this work, we optimized and compared the performance of two headspace gas chromatographic methods based on flame ionization (HS–GC–FID) and mass spectrometry detection (HS–GC–MS) to determine methanol and ethanol in insulating mineral oil. For methanol and ethanol, the detection limits were 12 and 27 μg kg^?1 (HS–GC–FID) and 1.3 and 3.1 μg kg^?1 (HS–GC–MS). Repeatability was evaluated in transformer oils for both the methods at different concentration levels of analytes and RSD values were found to lie between 1.8 and 16 %. The accuracy of the methods was assessed under a proficiency test (Cigré JWG A2/D1.46). The methods were compared by a F-test and a one-sided paired t test performed on 21 transformer oils in service. Correlations of methanol and ethanol content in sampled oils against their actual time of service are provided. For each sample, the content of traditional markers (furan-2-carbaldehyde and CO₂) was also measured, finding a correlation between light alcohols and CO₂ content. This indicates that methanol and ethanol determination may be helpful in providing further information on the thermal degradation conditions of transformers’ solid insulation. The method developed is currently routinely applied by the laboratories of Sea Marconi Technologies for the assessment of transformers’ conditions.     

Liquid chromatographic method with immunoaffinity column cleanup for determination of ochratoxin A in barley: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate a liquid chromatographic (LC) method with immunoaffinity column cleanup for determination of ochratoxin A. The method was tested at 3 concentration levels of ochratoxin A in barley, which represent possible future European regulatory limits. The test portion was extracted with acetonitrile-water by blending at high speed. The extract was filtered, diluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and applied to an ochratoxin A immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with water and the ochratoxin A eluted with methanol. The solvent was then evaporated and the residue redissolved in injection solvent. After injection of this solution onto reversed-phase LC column, ochratoxin A was measured by fluorescence detection. Eight samples of low level naturally contaminated barley and 2 samples of blank barley (ochratoxin A not found at the limit of detection of 0.2 microg/kg at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3 to 1) were sent, along with ampules of ochratoxin A, calibrant, and spiking solutions, to 15 laboratories in 13 different European countries. Test portions were spiked with ochratoxin A at levels of 4 ng/g, and recoveries ranged from 65 to 113%. Based on results for spiked samples (blind duplicates) and naturally contaminated samples (blind duplicates at 3 levels), the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 4 to 24%, and the relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 12 to 33%. The method showed acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision, as evidenced by HORRAT values, at the low level of determination for ochratoxin A in barley.     

气相色谱法测定直接电氧化反应液中2-甲基萘和2-甲基-1,4-萘醌

建立了气相色谱同时测定反应液中的2-甲基萘和2-甲基-1,4-萘醌的方法.该法以萘为内标物,在DB-1色谱柱上进行分离,氢火焰离子化检测器.方法的回收率98%～102%,相对标准偏差小于2%.     

Ultrasensitive direct determination of BTEX in polluted soils using a simple and novel pressure-controlled solid-phase microextraction setup

A pressure-controlled headspace solid-phase microextraction (PC-HS-SPME) setup was developed, by reconsidering the strengths and weaknesses points of the similar reported systems. The new setup was coupled with gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID) for direct analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in contaminated soils, without any sample preparation step. The important experimental factors, affecting the performance of the method, including volumes of extraction and vacuum vials, type of SPME fiber, extraction time and temperature, moisture content of the sample, and sonication time were studied and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, good linearity of the calibration curves (R² > 0.997) was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1–20,000 ng g^?1. The limits of detections were found to be 0.001–0.08 ng g^?1. The relative standard deviations, for six repetitive analyses of 100 ng g^?1 BTEX, were obtained to be 5.7–12.3%. The PC-HS-SPME–GC–FID procedure was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of BTEX in the polluted soil samples.     

Determination of ephedrine alkaloids in botanicals and dietary supplements by HPLC-UV: collaborative study

An international collaborative study was conducted of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method for the determination of the major (ephedrine [EP] and pseudoephedrine [PS]) and minor (norephedrine [NE], norpseudoephedrine [NP], methylephedrine [ME], and methylpseudoephedrine [MP]) alkaloids in selected dietary supplements representative of the commercially available products. Ten collaborating laboratories determined the ephedrine-type alkaloid content in 8 blind replicate samples. Five products contained ephedra ground herb or ephedra extract. These 5 products included ground botanical raw material of Ephedra sinica, a common powdered extract of Ephedra sinica, a finished product containing only Ephedra sinica ground botanical raw material, a complex multicomponent dietary supplement containing Ma Huang, and a high-protein chocolate flavored drink mix containing Ma Huang extract. In addition, collaborating laboratories received a negative control and negative control spiked with ephedrine alkaloids at high and low levels for recovery studies. Test extracts were treated to solid-phase extraction using a strong-cation exchange column to help remove interferences. The HPLC analyses were performed on a polar-embedded phenyl column using UV detection at 210 nm. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 0.64-3.0% for EP and 2.0-6.6% for PS, excluding the high protein drink mix. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 2.1-6.6% for EP and 9.0-11.4% for PS, excluding the high protein drink mix. Recoveries ranged from 84.7-87.2% for EP and 84.6-98.2% for PS. The data developed for the minor alkaloids are more variable with generally unsatisfactory HORRATS (i.e., >2). However, since these alkaloids generally add little to the total alkaloid content of the products, the method gives satisfactory results in measuring total alkaloid content (RSDr 0.85-3.13%; RSDR 2.03-10.97%, HORRAT 0.69-3.23, exclusive of the results from the high protein drink). On the basis of these results, the method is recommended for Official First Action for determination of EP and PS in dietary supplements exclusive of the high protein drinks.     

Validated Chromatographic Methods for the Determination of Process Related Toxic Impurities in Pantoprazole Sodium

A GC–MS method for the simultaneous determination of two process related toxic impurities viz. 2-(chloromethyl)-3,4-dimethoxypyridine hydrochloride (CDP) and dimethyl sulfate (DMS) and RP-LC for the routine determination of CDP in pantoprazole sodium (PPS) are presented. In GC–MS, a temperature gradient program was performed on a capillary DB-624 column (60 m × 0.32 mm × 1.8 μm). LC analysis of CDP was done on a Novaflex C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column using mobile phase containing buffer (0.02 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.0025 M di potassium hydrogen phosphate) and acetonitrile in 46:54 v/v ratio. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min^?1 and the elution was monitored at 220 nm. Both methods were validated as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. GC–MS is able to quantitate up to 3.0 ppm of CDP and DMS whereas with RP-LC up to 9.0 ppm of CDP could be quantitated.     

Determination of mercury in seafood by flow injection-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion: NMKL interlaboratory study. Nordic Committee on Food Analysis

Ten laboratories participated in an interlaboratory method-performance (collaborative) study of a method for the determination of mercury in foods of marine origin by flow injection-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry after wet digestion using a microwave oven technique. The study was preceded by a training round of samples of known identity. The method was tested on a total of 7 seafood products: blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), cod muscle (Gadus morhua), crab (Cancer pagurus), scampi (Nephrops norwegicus), black scabbard fish (Aphnopus carbo), longnose velvet dogfish (Centroscymus crepidater), and Portuguese dogfish (Cenbroscymus coelolepis) with mercury concentrations of 0.14, 0.24, 0.35, 0.59,11.42, 4.2, and 13.2 microg/g, respectively. The materials were presented to the participants in the study as blind duplicates, and the participants were asked to perform single determinations on each sample. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) for mercury ranged from 2.4 to 14.0%. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 7.7 to 16.6%. HORRAT values for all samples were <1.0.     

Determination of ochratoxin A in baby food by immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography: interlaboratory study

An interlaboratory study funded by the European Commission, Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme (4th Framework Programme) was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column cleanup liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of ochratoxin A in baby food at a possible future European regulatory limit (0.1 ng/g). The test portion is extracted in a blender with tert-butyl methyl ether (chosen to avoid use of chloroform but shown to give equivalent extraction efficiency) after addition of 0.5 mol/L phosphoric acid-2 mol/L sodium chloride solution. The extract is centrifuged and redissolved in a mixture of phosphate buffered saline solution and methanol. After removal of lypophilic substances with hexane, the extract is applied to an immunoaffinity column containing antibodies specific to ochratoxin A. The column is washed with water to remove the interfering compounds and the purified ochratoxin A is eluted with methanol. The separation and determination of ochratoxin A is performed by reversed-phase LC and detected by fluorescence after postcolumn derivatization (PCD) with ammonia. Test materials (baby food infant formulae), both spiked and naturally contaminated with ochratoxin A, were sent to 13 laboratories in 8 different European countries. Test portions were spiked at a level of 0.085 ng/g ochratoxin A. The average recovery for the spiked blank baby food was 108%. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 0.085 ng/g) as well as naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at levels between 0.05 and 0.22 ng/g) the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 18-36%. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 29-63% and HORRAT values of between 0.4 and 0.9 were obtained.     

Determination of maduramicin in feedingstuffs and premixtures by liquid chromatography: development, validation, and interlaboratory study

A reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for determination of maduramicin in feedingstuffs and premixtures was developed, validated, and interlaboratory studied. The extraction solvent was methanol. Maduramicin was detected at 520 nm after postcolumn derivatization with vanillin. Recovery was >90%. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) in feeds (1-5 mg/kg) and premixtures (500 mg/kg) ranged between 2.7 and 7.7%; the within-laboratory reproducibility was between 3.7 and 8.5%. The limit of quantitation was 2 mg/kg. Other feed additives did not interfere in the assay. The method showed ruggedness against small changes in the extraction conditions, eluant composition, and conditions for postcolumn derivatization. The presence of water in the extraction solvent negatively affected the recovery. In the collaborative study, 5 feeds (4 positive at 2.5-9 mg/kg, 1 blank) and 1 premixture (450 mg/kg) were analyzed by 10 laboratories. The RSDr of the feedingstuffs varied between 3.29 and 8.53%. The HORRAT ranged between 1.10 and 1.98. Recoveries were >90%, except for one participant (80%). One laboratory detected small signals in the blank sample, corresponding to 0.7 and 0.8 mg/kg. For the premixture, the RSDr was 3.15% and the HORRAT was 1.80.     

International interlaboratory study for sizing and quantification of Ag nanoparticles in food simulants by single-particle ICPMS

This publication describes the first international intercomparison of particle-size determination by single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICPMS). Concentrated monodisperse silver nanoparticle suspensions with particle diameters of 20, 40 and 100 nm and a blank solution were sent to 23 laboratories in Europe, the USA and Canada. Laboratories prepared eight nanoparticle preparations in two food simulants (distilled water; 10 % ethanol) and reported median particle size, Ag particle mass concentration and Ag particle number concentrations. Average repeatability and reproducibility standard deviation (s _r and s _R) for the median particle diameter were 1 and 14 nm, respectively. Relative precision was worse for Ag particle number concentrations (RSD _r?=?11 %; RSD _R?=?78 %). While further improvements of the method, especially with respect to software tools for evaluation, hardware options for shorter dwell times, calibration standards for determining nebuliser efficiency and further experience by laboratories are certainly desirable, the results of this study demonstrate the suitability of sp-ICPMS for the detection and quantification of certain kinds of nanoparticles.     

Immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography for determination of aflatoxin M1 in liquid milk: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an immunoaffinity column cleanup liquid chromatographic method for determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk at proposed European regulatory limits. The test portion of liquid milk was centrifuged, filtered, and applied to an immunoaffinity column. The column was washed with water, and aflatoxin was eluted with pure acetonitrile. Aflatoxin M1 was separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence detection. Frozen liquid milk samples both naturally contaminated with aflatoxin M1 and blank samples for spiking, were sent to 12 collaborators in 12 different European countries. Test portions of samples were spiked at 0.05 ng aflatoxin M1 per mL. After removal of 2 noncompliant sets of results, the mean recovery of aflatoxin M1 was 74%. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 1 level) and naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at 3 levels) the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 8 to 18%. The relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 21 to 31%. The method showed acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision data for liquid milk, as evidenced by HORRAT values at the low level of aflatoxin M1 contamination.     

Combined phenyl silane and immunoaffinity column cleanup with liquid chromatography for determination of ochratoxin A in roasted coffee: collaborative study

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate a liquid chromatography (LC) method for ochratoxin A using sequential phenyl silane and immunoaffinity column cleanup. The method was tested at 3 different levels of ochratoxin A in roasted coffee, which spanned the range of possible future European regulatory limits. The test portion was extracted with methanol and sodium bicarbonate by shaking for 30 min. The extract was filtered, centrifuged, and then cleaned up on a phenyl silane column before being eluted from the washed column with methanol-water. The eluate was diluted with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and applied to an ochratoxin A immunoaffinity column, which was washed with water. The ochratoxin A was eluted with methanol, the solvent was evaporated, and the residue was redissolved in injection solvent. After injection of this solution onto a reversed-phase LC apparatus, ochratoxin A was measured by fluorescence detection. Eight laboratory samples of low-level naturally contaminated roasted coffee and 2 laboratory samples of blank coffee (< 0.2 ng/g ochratoxin A at the signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1), along with ampules of ochratoxin A calibrant and spiking solutions, were sent to 15 laboratories in 13 different European countries. Test portions of the laboratory samples were spiked at levels of 4 ng/g ochratoxin A, and recoveries ranged from 65 to 97%. Based on results for spiked blank material (blind duplicates) and naturally contaminated material (blind duplicates at 3 levels), the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) ranged from 2 to 22% and the relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSDR) ranged from 14 to 26%. The method showed acceptable within- and between-laboratory precision, as evidenced by HORRAT values, at the low level of determination for ochratoxin A in roasted coffee.     

Determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in corn and corn flakes by liquid chromatography with immunoaffinity column cleanup: collaborative study.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in corn and corn flakes was collaboratively studied by 23 laboratories, which analyzed 5 blind duplicate pairs of each matrix to establish the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility characteristics of the method. Fumonisin levels in the corn ranged from <0.05 (blank) to 1.41 microg/g for FB1 and from <0.05 to 0.56 microg/g for FB2, whereas in the corn flakes they ranged from <0.05 to 1.05 microg/g for FB1 and from <0.05 to 0.46 microg/g for FB2. The method involved double extraction with acetonitrile-methanol-water (25 + 25 + 50), cleanup through an immunoaffinity column, and LC determination of the fumonisins after derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. Relative standard deviations for the within-laboratory repeatability (RSDr) of the corn analyses ranged from 19 to 24% for FB1 and from 19 to 27% for FB2; for the corn flakes analyses, RSDr ranged from 9 to 21 % for FB1 and from 8 to 22% for FB2. Relative standard deviations for the between-laboratories reproducibility (RSDR) of the corn analyses ranged from 22 to 28% for FB1 and from 22 to 30% for the FB2; for corn flakes analyses, RSDR ranged from 27 to 32% for FB1 and from 26 to 35% for FB2. Mean recoveries of FB1 and FB2 from corn spiked with FB1 at 0.80 microg/g and with FB2 at 0.40 microg/g were 76 and 72%, respectively; for corn flakes spiked at the same levels recoveries were 110 and 97% for FB1 and FB2, respectively. HORRAT ratios for the analyses of corn ranged from 1.44 to 1.53 for FB1 and from 0.96 to 1.48 for FB2, whereas for corn flakes they ranged from 1.60 to 1.82 for FB1 and from 1.39 to 1.68 for FB2.