Simultaneous determination of tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic and xanthurenic acids in honey by liquid chromatography with diode array, fluorescence and tandem mass spectrometry detection

A liquid chromatography method using diode array-fluorescence detection and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-FLD and LC–APCI-MS/MS) was developed to quantify the levels of tryptophan (TRP), kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic (KYNA) and xanthurenic (XA) acids in honey. This procedure involved isolating the compounds of interest via solid-phase extraction (SPE) with mixed-mode polymeric cartridges. Chromatographic separation of the analytes was performed in isocratic mode on a Synergi 4μ Hydro-RP 80Å (150 × 4.60 mm i.d.) analytical column at 30 °C. The mobile phase of 20 mM ammonium formate (pH 4) and methanol was passed at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. In replicate sets of spiked honey samples, the average analyte recoveries ranged from 60 to 98% for TRP, 55 to 120% for KYN, 65 to 106.5 for KYNA and 56 to 114% for XA. Detection limits ranged from 4 to 36 μg/kg for LC-DAD-FLD to 0.2 and 1.0 μg/kg for LC–APCI-MS/MS. A strong matrix effect was found when MS/MS was employed, necessitating calibration using the standard addition method on matrix-matched standards for each honey type. The method was used to quantify each of the compounds of interest in 17 honey samples of distinct botanical origins.     

Development of an improved method to extract pesticide residues in foods using acetonitrile with magnesium sulfate and chloroform

A multiresidue method was developed based on extraction of 10 g sample with 10 mL acetonitrile and subsequent liquid–liquid partitioning formed by adding 4 g MgSO₄ plus 1 mL chloroform. During the partitioning process, the extraction recoveries of polar analytes were found to be essentially determined by the acetonitrile content in the aqueous phase. The use of MgSO₄ gave the least acetonitrile left in the aqueous phase (lower than 5%) and thus promoting complete partitioning of analytes into the organic phase. At the same time, removal of water from the acetonitrile phase was achieved by adding only a small amount of chloroform with no influence on the acetonitrile content in the aqueous phase, thus leading to decreasing the co-extraction of polar matrix components. The most complete mutual separation of acetonitrile and water was achieved by the joint use of MgSO₄ and chloroform and thus the optimal extraction recovery and analytical selectivity were obtained simultaneously. The new method, with higher recoveries of polar analytes, better analytical selectivity and simpler manipulation, is a claimed improvement to the original QuEChERS method. The proposed method was finally validated by the determination of 20 pesticides in a mixed food matrix by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrum (LC–MS/MS). Acceptable linearity, sensitivity, recovery, precision and selectivity results were obtained.     

Application of a mixed-mode solid-phase extraction and cleanup procedure for LC/MS determination of thiabendazole and carbendazim in apple juice

Recently, a mixed-mode solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure was developed for rapid extraction and cleanup for determination of the fungicides thiabendazole and carbendazim in various fruit juices. This paper reports the application of that sample preparation procedure to the liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of these fungicides in apple juice with detection by positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS). Response was linear for sample concentrations from 2 to 500 microg/L (ppb). Recoveries averaged 74% (9% RSD) for carbendazim and 93% (9% RSD) for thiabendazole. After SPE cleanup, no matrix supression was observed for the ESI+ response for either compound studied. The method was applied to the analysis of incurred residues in 4 store-bought apple juices; carbendazim levels ranged from 10 to 70 microg/L and thiabendazole levels ranged from less than 2 to 130 microg/L.     

Mixed-mode solid-phase extraction and cleanup procedures for the liquid chromatographic determination of thiabendazole and carbendazim in fruit juices

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures were developed for rapid cleanup and determination of thiabendazole and carbendazim in orange, apple, and grape juices. Samples were prepared by using an SPE cartridge containing a mixed-mode sorbent with both reversed-phase and strong cation-exchange chemistries. Analysis was by liquid chromatography with photodiode-array UV detection. Orange juice was analyzed by mixed-mode cation-exchange extraction with reversed-phase cleanup; the other juices were analyzed by reversed-phase extraction with cation-exchange cleanup. Recoveries >80% for carbendazim and >90% for thiabendazole. Quantitation limits were 20 microg/L for both analytes.     

Simultaneous determination of clenbuterol, salbutamol and ractopamine in milk by reversed-phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with isotope dilution

A simple, sensitive and reliable analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of clenbuterol (CLB), salbutamol (SAL) and ractopamine (RAC) in milk by ultra high performance liquid chromatography–positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–ESI-MS/MS) with isotope dilution. Samples were directly purified through HLB cartridge. Then the eluate was dried under nitrogen and residues were redissolved in mobile phase. Samples were analyzed by LC–MS/MS on an Acquity UPLC^® BEH C₁₈ column with gradient elution. The samples were quantified using clenbuterol-D₉, salbutamol-D₃ and ractopamine-D₆ as internal standards. The proposed method was validated according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC determining specificity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), recovery, precision, linearity, robustness and stability. CCα values were 0.054, 0.006 and 0.008 μg/kg for CLB, SAL and RAC, respectively. CCβ values were 0.058, 0.007 and 0.009 μg/kg for CLB, SAL and RAC, respectively. The mean recoveries, repeatability (expressed as coefficient of variation, CV_r), and reproducibility (CV_R) varied from 95.8 to 106.2%, from 3.60 to 6.44% (CVr), and from 4.77 to 7.53% (CV_R), respectively. The method is demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of clenbuterol, salbutamol and ractopamine in milk. The total time required for the analysis of one sample, including sample preparation, was about 45 min.     

Determination of glutathione content in grape juice and wine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A modified preparation of sample was developed for the determination of glutathione content in grape juice and wine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, using on-line pre-column derivatization. Ice-cold deoxygenated methanol was used to deactivate the oxidation enzymes in juices or wines and keep the glutathione stable. The optimum recovery of glutathione content in grape juice and wine was obtained when either the sample of grape juice or wine was mixed in ice-cold deoxygenated methanol in the ratio 10:90 (v:v) and further diluted in sodium acetate buffer in the ratio 1:1 (v:v). The optimized method was validated for linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision and uncertainty. According to the validation data the method is appropriate for the determination of glutathione content in grape juice and wine. Glutathione contents in grape juices made from White Muscat grapes and Sauvignon Blanc wines were analysed. The average glutathione content in 28 young Sauvignon Blanc wines was 12.5 mg L⁻¹.     

Determination of spinosad in vegetables and fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV and mass spectrometric detection after gel permeation chromatography and solid-phase extraction cleanup on a 2-layered column

A simple and reliable method was developed for the determination of spinosyns A and D, the active ingredients of spinosad, in vegetables and fruits, by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) and confirmation by mass spectrometry (MS); the method uses selected gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and a 2-layered column for solid-phase extraction system. An aliquot of the crude sample extract obtained by acetonitrile extraction is loaded into the GPC system. The fraction containing spinosyns A and D is selectively collected and loaded directly onto a 2-layered column consisting of graphitized carbon (upper layer) and cyclohexyl-bonded silica gel (lower layer). After the column is washed with the GPC mobile phase acetone-cyclohexane (3 + 7), the column is eluted with acetonitrile containing 2% triethylamine. The eluate is used for HPLC-UV/MS analysis. Average recoveries from fortified cabbage, green perilla, fig, and strawberry at analyte concentrations of 0.05 and 0.25 microg/g were >85%, and the relative standard deviations were <9%. The detection limits for spinosyns A and D in green perilla were 0.005 microg/g by UV detection and 0.001 microg/g by MS detection.     

Hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction as a preconcentration and clean-up step after pressurized hot water extraction for the determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in sewage sludge

A method for the quantitative determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in sewage sludge was developed and validated. The target compounds were extracted using pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) and then purified and preconcentrated by three-phase hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) followed by LC–ESI-MS analysis. The PHWE was optimized with regard to the pH of solvent as well as other operational parameters. The optimum conditions were 0.01 M NaOH as the extraction solvent, temperature of 120 °C, pressure of 100 bar, static time 5 min, 5 cycles, flush volume 90% and purge time 60 s. Spike recoveries for sludge samples spiked at 200 ng g⁻¹ were in the range of 101–109% but for the native drugs in non-spiked sludge samples, recoveries were 38.9%, 59.8%, 90.3% and 47.8% for ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen, respectively. Donor phase pH, ionic strength and extraction time were optimized for HF-LPME after PHWE. The optimum conditions were 2 h extraction at pH 1.5 without salt addition. Enrichment factors in the range of 947–1213 times were achieved (extraction recoveries were 23.6–30.3%) for HF-LPME after PHWE. The matrix effect on the ionization of drugs in LC–ESI-MS was also investigated. The results show that there is a smaller matrix effect (−8.9% to +14.6%) in comparison with other published values obtained using solid phase extraction (SPE) for clean-up after pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Method detection limits (MDLs) and method quantification limits (MQLs) for different drugs were in the range of 0.4–3.7 ng g⁻¹ and 1.5–12.2 ng g⁻¹ in dried sludge samples, respectively. The characteristics of the proposed method were compared with those of other published works. The considerably lower ion suppression/enhancement and minimum use of organic solvents (a few microliters of di-n-hexyl ether) in the sample preparation step are two highlighted advantages of the proposed method in comparison with previously published works. The method was applied to determine NSAIDs in sewage sludge from Källby wastewater treatment plant (Lund, Sweden) in April, June, August and October 2010. The highest concentration level was recorded for ibuprofen in the April sewage sludge sample (588 ng g⁻¹) and all of the selected NSAIDs were detected in all the samples analyzed.     

Biological monitoring of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid in urine by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was employed for determination of the pyrethroid biomarker, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) in human urine samples. The optimized coating antigen concentration was 0.5 ng/mL with a dilution of 1:4000 for the 3-PBA antibody and 1:6000 for the enzyme conjugate. Urine samples were hydrolyzed with concentrated hydrochloric acid; extracted with dichloromethane and solvent-exchanged into a methanol/buffer solution, prior to analysis in a 96-microwell plate immunoassay. Quantitative recoveries of 3-PBA were obtained for fortified urine samples by ELISA (92 ± 18%) as well as by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (90 ± 13%). The overall method precision of these samples was within ±20% for both the ELISA and GC/MS methods. Analytical results from over one hundred urine samples showed that the ELISA and GC/MS data were highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. At the 10 ng/mL comparative concentration level, the false positive rate was 0% and the false negative rate was 0.8% for ELISA when using GC/MS as the reference method. The ELISA method has a suitable low detection limit for 3-PBA to assess pyrethroid exposures in non-occupational settings.     

Quantitative determination of jatrophone in "cachaça" prepared with Jatropha elliptica

A method for sample preparation and analysis by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was developed for analysis of jatrophone in "cacha?a" prepared with Jatropha elliptica, administered orally, employed in Brazil for the treatment of venomous snake bites. The linearity, accuracy, precision of the procedure was evaluated. Analytical curve for jatrophone was linear in the range of 16.24-81.20 microg ml(-1). The recovery of the jatrophone in the samples analyzed was 98.99-99.89%. The percent coefficient of variation for the quantitative analysis of the "cacha?a" in the analyses was under 2%.     

A new solid-phase extraction and HPLC method for determination of patulin in apple products and hawthorn juice in China

A new solid‐phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment method using a home‐made polyvinylpolypyrrolidone‐florisil (PVPP‐F) column was developed for the analysis of patulin in apple and hawthorn products in China. Fifty samples (25 apple juices, 12 apple jams, and 13 hawthorn juices) were prepared using the new method and then analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC‐DAD) on an Agela Venusil MP C₁₈ reversed‐phase column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm). The cleanup results for all samples using home‐made PVPP‐F column were compared with those obtained using a MycoSep®228 AflaPat column. The correlation coefficient R (0.9998) fulfilled the requirement of linearity for patulin in the concentration range of 2.5–250 μg/kg. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) of patulin were 3.99 and 9.64 μg/kg for PVPP‐F column, and 3.56 and 8.07 μg/kg for MycoSep®228 AflaPat column, respectively. Samples were spiked with patulin at levels ranging from 25 to 250 μg/kg, and recoveries using PVPP‐F and MycoSep®228 AflaPat columns were in the range of 81.9–100.9% and 86.4–103.9%, respectively. Naturally occurring patulin was found in 2 of 25 apple juice samples (8.0%) and 1 of 13 hawthorn juice samples (7.7%) at concentrations ranging from 12.26 to 36.81 μg/kg. The positive results were further confirmed by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS).     

Validation of a confirmatory method for the determination of melamine in egg by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and reliable method was developed and validated for detection and confirmation of melamine in egg based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Trichloroacetic acid solution was used for sample extraction and precipitation of proteins. The aqueous extracts were subjected to solid-phase extraction by mixed-mode reversed-phase/strong cation-exchange cartridges. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode, melamine was determined by LC-MS/MS, which was completed in 5 min for each injection. For the GC-MS analysis, extracted melamine was derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoracetamide prior to selected ion monitoring detection in electron impact mode. The average recovery of melamine from fortified samples ranged from 85.2% to 103.2%, with coefficients of variation lower than 12%. The limit of detection obtained by GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS was 10 and 5 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. This validated method was successfully applied to the determination of melamine in real samples from market.     

Determination of fludioxonil and famoxadone in processed fruits and vegetables by liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The feasibility of using liquid chromatography/ electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) for determining 2 fungicides (fludioxonil and famoxadone) in tomato pulp, pear purée, and concentrated lemon juice has been evaluated. A miniaturized extraction-partition procedure requiring small amounts of nonchlorinated solvents was used. The extracts (5 microL) were analyzed by LC/ESI-MS/MS without previous cleanup. Chromatographic determination was performed using a C18 column with isocratic elution. Four MS/MS transitions of precursor ions were monitored simultaneously (2 for each pesticide) by means of negative ESI. Mean recoveries from samples at fortification levels of 0.002-0.020 mg/kg (fludioxonil) and 0.010-0.100 mg/kg (famoxadone) ranged from 77.1 to 96.5%, with associated relative standard deviations between 4.2 and 11.5%.     

Determination of ochratoxin A at parts-per-trillion levels in cereal products by immunoaffinity column cleanup and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic and potentially carcinogenic fungal toxin found in a variety of food commodities. A new sensitive method has been developed to quantify OTA in cereal products by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometric (MS) detection. Ochratoxin B was used as the internal standard. OTA was extracted from cereal products with acetonitrile-water, and the extract was diluted with a buffer; the diluted extract was cleaned up on an immunoaffinity column before LC/MS analysis. Two multiple-reaction monitoring transitions were used, one for quantification of OTA and one for confirmation of identity. The method was shown to be highly sensitive, with a low decision limit (CCalpha) of 0.012 microg/kg and a detection capability (CCbeta) of 0.021 microg/kg. Within-laboratory repeatability coefficient of variation values were 7.1, 3.7, and 3.1%, and the corresponding recoveries were 104, 106, and 103% for rice samples fortified with OTA at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 microg/kg, respectively. Method validation was performed according to the criteria of European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. All criteria as presented in the Commission Decision were fulfilled. This method is the first fully validated method using immunoaffinity chromatography for cleanup and MS for detection in the analysis of cereals for OTA. The method was also successfully applied to cereal-derived products. The analytical results for determination of the OTA content of cereal products commercially available in Hong Kong are also reported.     

橙汁中苯甲酸含量测定的国际比对APMP.QM-P23

建立了橙汁中苯甲酸含量的高效液相色谱-紫外检测（HPLC-UV）和液相色谱-同位素稀释质谱法（LC-IDMS）两种准确测定方法,应用于亚太计量规划组织（Asia Pacific Metrology Programme,APMP）开展的橙汁中苯甲酸含量测定的国际比对（APMP.QM-P23）,取得了满意的结果,对我国在相关领域的国际计量等效互认提供了有力的支持。本研究着重考察了色谱分离条件和样品预处理条件对测定结果的影响,对两种方法测定比对样品结果的不确定度进行了详细分析研究。HPLC-UV方法的检出限（信噪比大于3）为0.75 mg/kg,在100 mg/kg添加水平下,橙汁中苯甲酸的平均回收率为99.4%;LC-IDMS方法的检出限为0.05 mg/kg,在相同浓度添加水平下,苯甲酸的平均回收率为99.6%。采用两种方法同时对样品进行测定,比对报出结果苯甲酸含量为（102.0±2.1）mg/kg（包含因子k=2）。两种方法均简单、准确、可靠,且具有较好的重现性,LC-IDMS方法由于灵敏度高更适合于橙汁中微量苯甲酸的测定。     

Development of a simultaneous extraction and cleanup method for pyrethroid pesticides from indoor house dust samples

An efficient and reliable analytical method was developed for the sensitive and selective quantification of pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) in house dust samples. The method is based on selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) of the dust-bound PYRs into dichloromethane (DCM) with analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Various adsorbents and combinations of extraction solvents and temperatures were evaluated to achieve a high-throughput sample preparation that eliminates the post-extraction cleanup step. The final method used sulfuric acid-impregnated silica (acid silica) and neutral silica together in the extraction cell with the dust sample to provide both extraction and cleanup simultaneously. The optimal ratio of dust/acid silica/silica was 1:0.8:8. The extraction was performed at 2000 psi, at 100 °C with DCM for 5 min in three cycles. Method precision and accuracy were evaluated by the analysis of triplicate aliquots of the dust samples and the samples fortified with the target PYRs. The accuracy measured as the recoveries of the PYRs in the fortified samples ranged from 85% to 120%. The precision measured as the relative standard deviation of replicate samples was within ±25%. The SPLE method was applied to 20 house dust samples collected from households that participated in two field studies regarding exposures to pesticides and other pollutants. Similar concentrations of target PYRs were obtained for the SPLE and a stepwise extraction/cleanup procedure. The SPLE procedure reduces organic solvent consumption and increases the sample throughput when compared with a traditional stepwise extraction and cleanup procedure. This study demonstrates that the SPLE procedure can be applied to complex dust matrices for analysis of PYRs for large scale exposure or environmental monitoring studies.     

Determination of lincomycin and tylosin residues in honey by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of lincomycin and tylosin residues in honey as part of field studies examining the efficacy and target animal safety of these antibiotics to control American foulbrood disease in honey bees. Residues of the antibiotics were determined using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). Honey samples were diluted and injected directly into the LC/MS/MS system without additional cleanup by solid-phase extraction or liquid-liquid partitioning. A six-port valve system was utilized to selectively route eluant from the LC column into the mass spectrometer only during a relatively short portion of the chromatographic run corresponding to the elution of the analytes of interest. Minimal contamination of the MS source chamber was observed despite the analysis of large numbers of samples. Using internal standard quantitation, excellent accuracy and precision were obtained with no apparent matrix-to-matrix variation. Based on the analysis of fortified replicates, the mean percent deviation from the theoretical concentration and the percent relative standard deviation were both less than 10% for tylosin over an analytical range of 10-1000 microg/kg. Slightly higher mean percent deviations and relative standard deviations were observed for the analysis of lincomycin in fortified replicate samples. The method detection limits were determined to be 5 and 2 microg/kg for lincomycin and tylosin, respectively.     

Validation of a method for the determination of multiclass pesticide residues in fruit juices by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry after extraction by matrix solid-phase dispersion

A multiresidue method was developed and validated for the determination of pesticide residues (omethoate, dimethoate, carbendazim, propoxur, thiabendazole, carbaryl, pirimicarb, azinphos-methyl, methidathion, and iprodione) in fruit juices. The samples were extracted by matrix solid-phase dispersion with diatomaceous earth and analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The method detection limits were <0.2 ppb for all pesticides; the relative standard deviations for analyses of samples fortified over the range of 2-50 ng/g were <9%, and the recoveries for each pesticide were all between 77 and 102%. The proposed method was used to analyze 21 commercial fruit juices; pesticide residues were found in 71% of the samples.     

Simultaneous direct analysis of benzimidazole fungicides and relevant metabolites in agricultural products based on multifunction dispersive solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A fast and flexible multi-residue procedure for effective extraction of benzimidazole fungicides and the related transformation products in various raw agricultural commodities is developed for direct and simultaneous analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The new sample preparation method, introduced to allow direct extraction of the labile fungicides as the intact forms in complex matrices, is achieved using a conservative homogenizing extraction and multifunction adsorption cleanup (CHEMAC), which basically involves salting-out partitioning/extraction with acetate-buffered acetonitrile at low-temperature and sequential rapid solid-phase dispersive cleanup with a ternary sorbent mixture. The CHEMAC procedure was optimized and further modified by incorporating several pretreatment variables influencing sample stability and process efficiency, such as pH, temperature, salt and sorbent utilized. By using CHEMAC, a noteworthy improvement in extraction recoveries was obtained for the problematic fungicides, while no significant differential matrix effects were detected on the LC–MS/MS analysis in all 9 matrices. The in-source fragmentation of benomyl occurred but caused no cross-talk interference in multi-component analysis. Thus the CHEMAC-based LC–MS/MS strategy can serve as an attractive approach to satisfactory overall process efficiencies (70–92%) with acceptable repeatability (relative standard deviations below 16%) for all the analyte–matrix combinations. Mean accuracies were obtained within the range of 70–110% at fortified levels of 1–500 ng/g, with intra-day and inter-day variations less than 15 and 20%, respectively. The successful practical application of the proposed method to real samples has also been demonstrated.     

Determination of type A and type B trichothecenes in paprika and chili pepper using LC-triple quadrupole-MS and GC-ECD

There is a need to develop sensitive and accurate analytical methods for determining deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in paprika to properly assess the relevant risk of human exposure. An optimized analytical method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection and another method for determination of DON by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in paprika was developed. The method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin that gave the best recoveries involved extraction of the sample with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v), clean-up by solid-phase extraction on a cartridge made of different sorbent materials followed by a further clean-up in immunoaffinity column that was specific for the two toxins. The solvent was changed and the eluate was derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride and injected into the GC system. The limits of detection (LOD) for T-2 and HT-2 toxins were 7 and 3 μg/kg, respectively, and the recovery rates for paprika spiked with 1000 μg toxin/kg were 71.1% and 80.1% for HT-2 and T-2 toxins, respectively. For DON determination, the optimized method consisted of extraction with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v) solution followed by a solid-phase extraction clean-up process in a cartridge made of different sorbent compounds. After solvent evaporation in N₂ stream, the residue was dissolved and DON was separated and determined by LC-MS/MS. The LOD for this method was 14 μg DON/kg paprika sample and the DON recovery rate was 86.8%.