Quantitative analysis of oxytetracycline and its 4-epimer in calf tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Tetracycline antibiotics are commonly used in veterinary medicine because of their broad spectrum activity and cost effectiveness. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is one of the most important members of this antibiotic family. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method to determine OTC residues in edible tissues of calf. Extraction of OTC and its 4-epimer (4-epiOTC), in the presence of the internal standard demethylchlortetracycline (DMCTC), was performed using a liquid extraction with sodium succinate solution (pH 4.0), followed by protein removal with trichloroacetic acid and paper filtration. Further solid-phase extraction clean-up on an HLB polymeric reversed phase column was performed to obtain an extract suitable for LC-MS-MS analysis. Chromatographic separation of the internal standard, and especially OTC and its 4-epimer, was achieved on a PLRP-S polymeric reversed phase column, using a mixture of 0.001 M of oxalic acid, 0.5% (v/v) of formic acid and 3% (v/v) of tetrahydrofuran in water (mobile phase A) and tetrahydrofuran (mobile phase B) as the mobile phase, and at a column temperature of 60 degrees C. OTC and its 4-epimer could be identified using the MS-MS detection technique, and were subsequently quantified. The method has been validated according to the requirements of the EC at the MRL (maximum residue limit, 100 ng g(-1) for muscle, 300 ng g(-1) for liver and600 ng g(-1) for kidney), half the MRL and double the MRL levels, as well for OTC as for 4-epiOTC. Calibration graphs were prepared for all tissues and good linearity was achieved over the concentration ranges tested (r > 0.99 and goodness of fit < 10%). Limits of quantification of half the MRLs were obtained for the analysis of OTC and 4-epiOTC in muscle, liver and kidney tissues of calf. Limits of detection ranged for both components between 0.8 and 48.2 ng g(-1). The within-day and between-day precisions, expressed as RSD values, were all below the maximum allowed RSD values calculated according to the Horwitz equation. The results for accuracy fell within the -20% to +10% range. Recoveries were between 47 and 56% for OTC, and between 52 and 62% for 4-epiOTC, depending on the tissue. The method has been successfully used for the quantitative determination of OTC and 4-epiOTC in tissue samples of calves medicated with OTC by intramuscular injection.     

Determination and quantification of sulfadiazine and trimethoprim in swine tissues using liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and mass spectrometric detection

High-performance liquid chromatographic procedures with ultraviolet detection were developed for the quantitative determination of sulfadiazine (SDA) and trimethoprim (TMP) in swine tissues (kidney, liver, muscle, fat and fat + skin). In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used for the confirmation of the identity of the analytes of interest. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Spherisorb ODS-2 column (250 x 4.6 mm id, dp 5 microns). The mobile phase for SDA analysis consisted of 1% acetic acid in water-acetonitrile (85 + 15, v/v). For TMP analysis a 80 + 15 + 5 (v/v/v) mixture of 0.25% triethylammonium acetate in water, acetonitrile and methanol was used as the eluent. Sulfamerazine and ormethoprim were used as the internal standards for SDA and TMP analysis, respectively. For the isolation of the compounds of interest from biological samples, a liquid-liquid extraction with acetone and ethyl acetate, followed by a clean-up using a solid-phase extraction column (aminopropyl and benzenesulfonic acid for SDA, benzenesulfonic acid for TMP) was performed. Calibration graphs were prepared for all tissues and linearity was achieved over the concentration ranges tested (50-1000 ng g-1 for SDA, r > or = 0.9979; 25-500 ng g-1 for TMP, r > or = 0.9994). The method was validated at the maximum residue level (MRL, 100 ng g-1 for SDA and 50 ng g-1 for TMP), at half the MRL and at double the MRL for both SDA and TMP. The accuracy and precision (expressed as the within-day repeatability) were found to be within the required ranges for each specific concentration. The quantification limits were 50 ng g-1 for SDA and 25 ng g-1 for TMP. The limits of detection were below one half the MRLs. Both methods were selective for the determination of SDA and TMP. Biological samples (kidney, liver, muscle, fat and fat + skin) from pigs that received a commercial SDA-TMP preparation with the feed for five consecutive days (dose rate: 25 mg SDA and 5 mg TMP kg body weight-1 day-1) were analyzed using the described methods. The quantitative results were used to calculate a withdrawal time (12 days) to reach residue levels below the respective MRLs. This calculation was performed according to the recommendations of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA/CVMP/036/95).     

Quantitative determination of dihydrostreptomycin in bovine tissues and milk by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Dihydrostreptomycin (DHS) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used in veterinary medicine in combination with benzylpenicillin for the treatment of bacterial infections in cattle, pigs and sheep. A method to determine its residues in edible tissues of cattle, as well as in milk, was developed and validated. Extraction of DHS from the tissues was performed using a liquid extraction with a 10 mM phosphate buffer containing 2% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid, while milk samples were treated with a 50% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid solution, followed by a solid-phase clean-up procedure on a carboxypropyl (CBA) weak cation exchange column. Ion-pair chromatography, using a mixture of 20 mM pentafluoropropionic acid in water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase, was used to retain DHS and the internal standard streptomycin (STR) on a Nucleosil (5 microm) reversed-phase C18 column. The components were detected and quantified by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry. The method could be validated according to EC (European Community) requirements with respect to linearity, trueness and precision, the latter evaluated at the maximum residue limit (MRL) - 1000 ng g(-1) for kidney, 500 ng g(-1) for muscle, liver and fat, and 200 ng g(-1) for milk -, at one-half of the MRL and at one and a half times the MRL. A limit of quantification of 10 ng g(-1) and 1 ng ml(-1) was obtained for all tissues and for milk, respectively, which is far below one-half of the MRL as requested, while the limit of detection was in the low ppb range, varying between 1.9 and 4.2 ng g(-1) for the different tissues tested, and being 0.6 ng ml(-1) for milk. The method was used for the monitoring of DHS residues in incurred tissue and milk samples coming from cattle medicated with DHS in combination with benzylpenicillin by intramuscular injection, in order to evaluate withdrawal times.     

Quantitative analysis of clavulanic acid in porcine tissues by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method for the determination of clavulanic acid (CLAV) residues in edible tissues of swine by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). After a simple extraction of CLAV using an aqueous phosphate buffer solution of pH 6.0, an ultrafiltration step was performed for protein removal. Chromatography of CLAV and the internal standard tazobactam (TAZO) was achieved on a reversed-phase PLRP-S polymeric column (150 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., 100 Å) using a mixture of 0.05 (v/v)% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The mass spectrometer was operated in the MS/MS selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The method was validated for the analysis of porcine muscle, skin plus fat, liver and kidney, according to the requirements defined by the European Community. Calibration curves were prepared for all tissues and good linearity was achieved over the concentration ranges tested (correlation coefficient ≥0.99 and goodness-of-fit coefficient ≤10%). Limits of quantification of 50 ng g⁻¹ were obtained for the analysis of CLAV in the various tissues which corresponds in all cases to at least half the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Limits of detection ranged between 8.0 and 15.14 ng g⁻¹. The within-day, between-day precisions and trueness fell within the ranges specified in the EMEA/CVMP/573-00/FINAL document. Biological samples from pigs that received an oral or intravenous bolus of a commercial amoxicillin/clavulanic acid formulation were analyzed using the described method.     

高效液相色谱法测定猪组织中咪唑苯脲残留研究

建立了高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定猪可食性组织中咪唑苯脲残留的方法。猪组织经β-葡萄糖苷酶水解后,用1 mol/L盐酸提取,再用正己烷-异戊醇(3:2, v/v)混合溶剂萃取净化。以乙腈和0.0075 mol/L戊烷磺酸钠水溶液(含0.1%三乙胺,pH 3.0)作为流动相,经C18反相色谱柱分离后用紫外检测器检测。结果表明: 该方法在咪唑苯脲含量为10～10000 μg/L范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数大于0.999;空白组织中加标样品的检出限(LOD)为10 μg/kg,定量限(LOQ)为20 μg/kg。在定量限、最高残留限量(MRL)、2倍MRL添加水平下,不同组织的平均回收率为80.04%～110.32%,相对标准偏差为0.82%～10.00%。表明该检测方法简单、灵敏,适用于猪组织中咪唑苯脲残留的定量检测。     

Liquid chromatographic determination of fenbendazole residues in pig tissues after treatment with medicated feed.

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is an anthelmintic widely used in farm animals to treat parasitic infestations. In pigs, it is administered in the food. The aim of this study was to validate an analytical method for the determination of FBZ and its metabolites in pig tissues. This method is based on oxidation of FBZ and its sulfoxide metabolite to the sulfone metabolite (FBZSO2). The limit of quantitation for this method is 20 ng FBZSO2/g for all tissues. The maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for FBZ and its metabolites in pig tissues are 50 ng/g for muscle, fat, and kidney and 500 ng/g for liver. This method is based on a liquid-liquid extraction followed by an oxidation with peracetic acid and a cleanup procedure based on 2 liquid-liquid extractions. Determination is achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The present method is adjusted to the MRL established for FBZ and its metabolite residues. The analysis of the residues shows that after 72 h posttreatment, no FBZSO2 was detected in muscle, fat, and kidney and that liver levels were below the MRL.     

Validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of 11 (fluoro)quinolone antibiotics in swine kidney

A LC-MS-MS method has been validated for the simultaneous quantification of 11 (fluoro)quinolone antibiotics at the maximum residue level (MRL) in swine kidney. The studied compounds were danofloxacine, cinoxacine, ciprofloxacine, noxacine, enrofloxacine, flumequine, marbofloxacine, nalidixic acid, norfloxacine, ofloxacine and oxolinic acid. The method involves solid-phase extraction of these compounds followed by LC-MS-MS analysis using an electrospray ionisation interface. Limits of quantification < or = 50 microg/kg could be obtained in swine kidney, much lower than every MRL. The validation is discussed. This work was carried out in order to support the European Union policy on consumer health     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测奶中克拉维酸残留

采用高效液相色谱-串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)建立了克拉维酸在奶中的残留检测方法。2 g样品经乙醇沉淀蛋白质后,转入鸡心瓶中旋转蒸发浓缩至0.5 mL左右,用乙酸铵定容,净化后检测。流动相为乙腈和0.1%甲酸水,梯度洗脱,经Luna 5u C8色谱柱分离,采用电喷雾电离,多反应监测负离子模式对克拉维酸进行定量分析。采用基质匹配法对奶中克拉维酸的含量进行标准校正,在克拉维酸含量为10～400 μg/kg范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数大于0.999;奶中加标样品的检出限(LOD,按信噪比(S/N)≥3计)为10 μg/kg,定量限(LOQ, S/N≥10)为20 μg/kg。在定量限、1/2最高残留限量、最高残留限量、2倍最高残留限量添加水平下,奶中克拉维酸的平均回收率为80.00%～91.25%,相对标准偏差为5.60%～8.77%。该方法可用于奶中克拉维酸残留的分析检测。     

Optimization of a GC‐MS/MS Method for the Analysis of PCDDs and PCDFs in Human and Fish Tissue

This paper outlines the possibilities of selectivity and sensitivity enhancement in measuring PCDD/F congeners using an ion trap GC‐MS/MS. The pressure of the collision gas and the collision energy were optimized. The modified GC‐MS/MS method was applied to the determination of PCDDs and PCDFs in human and fish tissues. Limits of quantification were about 1 pg/g of fat for all seventeen 2378 PCDD/Fs tested (starting amount of fat, 2 g).     

Determination of ractopamine in swine, bovine, and turkey tissues by HPLC with fluorescence detection: first action 2011.22

A candidate LC method proposed by the Expert Review Panel (ERP) for ractopamine was evaluated in a single-laboratory validation (SLV) study. The matrixes examined included bovine liver, kidney, muscle, and fat; swine liver, kidney, muscle, and fat; and turkey liver and muscle. Solution standards were shown to provide a linear response with an unweighted regression. The method demonstrated acceptable precision (HorRat, values 0.25 to 1.38) and recovery (75.4 to 88.8%) in all fortified matrixes. Method precision was verified with incurred residue tissues (bovine liver, kidney, and muscle; swine liver, kidney, and muscle; and turkey liver and muscle), which yielded RSDr values below 16% for all tissues and below 7% for most tissues. Estimated LOQ values ranged from 1.8 to 20.7 ng/g and support the utility of the method in the range of the maximum residue limits or tolerances for the various tissues. The data satisfy the requirements of the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Veterinary Drug Residue for SLV studies, and the method was adopted Official Methods ofAnalysis First Action 2011.22 by the AOAC ERP on Veterinary Drug Residues.     

离子交换固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定动物组织中的8类非甾体抗炎药残留

采用离子交换固相萃取-超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定了动物组织中的8类14种非甾体抗炎药(Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,NSAIDs)残留。动物组织样品经乙腈-乙酸乙酯(1∶1,V/V)提取、乙腈饱和正己烷除脂、Oasis MCX阳离子交换固相萃取柱除杂后,用液相色谱-质谱联用仪电喷雾电离,多反应监测模式检测。本方法的检出限为3.0～10.0μg/kg;定量限为10.0～25.0μg/kg;添加浓度在10.0～1000.0μg/kg范围内,牛肉组织中的回收率为62.9%～108.4%,相对标准偏差小于10%;猪肉组织中的回收率为63.4%～117.0%,相对标准偏差小于9%。     

A new liquid chromatographic method for routine determination of oxytetracycline marker residue in the edible tissues of farm animals

A simple, rapid, and specific ion-pair liquid chromatographic method for routine determination of the marker residue of oxytetracycline (OTC), namely OTC and 4-epi-oxytetracycline (4-epiOTC), in edible animal tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, and fat) has been developed. Minced tissue samples were acidified at pH 2.7 with 2 mol L(-1) sulfuric acid and extracted with acetonitrile. The extracts were purified by treatment with ammonium sulfate solution and concentrated into 0.1 mol L(-1) phosphoric acid. Baseline separation was carried out isocratically on a Nucleosil 100-5 C(18), 5-microm column using an acetonitrile-0.01 mol L(-1) disodium hydrogen phosphate (20:80, v/v) mobile phase that contained both positively (tetrabutylammonium) and negatively (octanesulfonate) charged pairing ions and EDTA, and was adjusted to pH 3.8. Detection was by UV at 370 nm. The method was fully validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Overall recoveries were better than 82.6% and overall relative standard deviation was better than 6% for all the tissues examined. The good analytical characteristics of the method allowed limits of quantification as low as 30 ng g(-1) for muscle and fat and 50 ng g(-1) for liver and kidney, for both OTC and 4-epiOTC, to be realized. The method was successfully used to determine the OTC marker residue in tissues of two sheep intramuscularly administered a commercial OTC formulation.     

Analysis of semicarbazide in baby food by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS)--in-house method validation

A method for detection of semicarbazide (SEM) in baby food was validated. SEM was extracted with hydrochloric acid and derivatised with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, using [15N2,13C] semicarbazide as internal standard. The extract was neutralised, purified on a solid phase extraction cartridge and SEM was determined by reversed phase LC-MS-MS. Linearity was demonstrated in the ranges from 0.1 ng ml(-1) to 1 ng ml(-1) and from 2 ng ml(-1) to 80 ng ml(-1). Matrix effects were non significant for meat-based and significant for apple and rice-based baby foods, in both ranges. Mean recoveries ranged from 87.8% to 107.2% with relative standard deviation from 0.2% to 9.1%, considering both ranges. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.1 microg kg(-1) and 0.25 microg kg(-1), respectively. The results of the validation process demonstrated the method suitability for use in food control.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测牛奶中头孢洛宁残留

建立了牛奶中头孢洛宁残留检测的高效液相色谱-串联质谱方法。1 g牛奶经乙腈沉淀蛋白质后,上清液于37 ℃水浴下氮气吹干,用1 mL甲醇-0.1%甲酸水溶液（3：7,v/v）复溶,正己烷除脂净化后检测。流动相为乙腈和0.1%甲酸水溶液,梯度洗脱,经C₁₈色谱柱分离,采用多反应监测正离子模式对头孢洛宁进行定性定量分析。采用基质匹配法对牛奶中头孢洛宁的含量进行标准校正,在2~200 μg/L范围内,头孢洛宁质量浓度与其对应峰面积的线性关系良好,相关系数>0.999。牛奶中加标样品的检出限（按S/N≥3计）为0.5 μg/kg,定量限（S/N≥10计）为2 μg/kg。在定量限、1/2最高残留限量、最高残留限量、2倍最高残留限量添加水平下,牛奶中头孢洛宁的平均回收率为78.5%~86.2%,日内相对标准偏差为1.5%~6.2%,日间相对标准偏差为2.9%~5.6%。该方法可用于牛奶中头孢洛宁的残留检测。     

Residue study of doxycycline and 4-epidoxycycline in pigs medicated via-drinking water.

A study was performed to determine the residues in edible tissues of healthy pigs after continuous administration of doxycycline with drinking water for five consecutive days at a dose rate of 10.5 mg doxycycline kg-1 body weight (BW) per day. Quantitation was performed using a validated HPLC method with fluorescence detection. The method was able to separate doxycycline and its 4-epimer, 4-epidoxycycline. This epimer was found in kidney, liver, skin, fat and muscle tissue. The method was validated at the maximum residue limit (MRL), at half the MRL and at double the MRL for both doxycycline and 4-epidoxycycline. Linear calibration curves were obtained in spiked tissues (r > 0.99). The accuracy of the calibrators of the calibration curves was within -20% to +10%. The accuracy and precision (expressed as the within-run repeatability) were found to be within the required ranges for the specific concentration. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were below one-half of the MRL. The quantification limits were 50 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 100 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in kidney and liver, 20 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 50 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in skin and fat and 10 micrograms kg-1 for doxycycline and 50 micrograms kg-1 for 4-epidoxycycline in muscle tissue. The withdrawal time was calculated according to the recommendations of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA/CVMP/036/95) and was set at 3 days. The plasma concentration of doxycycline and the stability of doxycycline in drinking water were also determined during the treatment period. The mean plasma concentration of doxycycline during the treatment period ranged from 0.83 to 0.96 microgram ml-1. Thirty-six hours after the withdrawal from medicated drinking water, no plasma levels could be detected. Samples of medicated water were taken at time zero and at 24 h after addition of doxycycline to the drinking water. No statistically significant difference in the mean drinking water concentration was seen at time zero and at time 24 h (Student's t-test, alpha = 0.05).     

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.     

Determination of (fluoro)quinolone antibiotic residues in pig kidney using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. I. Laboratory-validated method

A new LC-MS/MS method has been developed for the multiresidue determination of 11 (fluoro)quinolone antibiotics (FQs), including acidic and amphoteric species, around their maximum residue level (MRL) in pig kidney. The procedure involves a common sample preparation by solid-phase extraction on disposable extraction cartridges followed by a fast reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The method was validated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/CE. The accuracy of the method was satisfactory with recoveries included in the interval 80-100%. The precision results showed mean repeatability and reproducibility coefficients of 7.4% and 11.8%, respectively. Limits of quantification much lower than the MRLs could be obtained.     

Selective enrichment of 17 pyrethroids from lyophilised agricultural samples

The screening of agricultural samples to determine 17 synthetic pyrethroids was investigated. Samples were lyophilised without losses of the insecticides, and then extracted with n-hexane. A simple, continuous preconcentration-elution system was developed, which included a silica sorbent column (packed with 50 mg) and used an air stream to carry the eluent (ethyl acetate) which minimised the eluate volume thus increasing the preconcentration factor; so no evaporation step was required. Pyrethroids were determined by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) by using a 5% phenylmethylpolysiloxane-coated fused-silica capillary column; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify the pyrethroids detected by GC-ECD monitoring. Limits of detection varied between 0.1 and 0.8 ng/ml (except for piperonyl butoxide, 25 ng/ml) with linear ranges from 1 to 200 ng/ml; the precision of the method was high (3-6%). Recoveries of 17 insecticides from 14 different agricultural samples fortified at levels of 20-100 ng/g ranged from 66 to 102% (bifenthrin and deltamethrin were those providing the lowest values, 66-87%). Pyrethroids were detected in eight samples (from the 100 unfortified agricultural samples tested) at concentrations lower than the established maximum residue limits (MRLs).     

Residue depletion of valnemulin in swine tissues after oral administration

The depletion profile of valnemulin (VLM) was studied in healthy piglets after oral administration of a premix. Thirty pigs were given doses of 7.5 mg/kg body weight/day in the feed for 21 days. One control and five medicated piglets were randomly selected for sacrifice at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 days post-treatment. The residue concentrations of VLM in swine muscle, liver and kidney were detected using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The highest residue concentrations of VLM were attained in 0.25 day, and all of the samples were below the maximum residue limit (MRL) recommended by the European Medical Evaluation Agency (EMEA) at 0.5 day post-treatment. The residue concentrations of swine liver were significantly higher than those of kidney and muscle, which indicated liver to be the target tissue for VLM. The withdrawal period of VLM with oral administration was 24 hours.     

Determination of multiclass pesticides in food commodities by pressurized liquid extraction using GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS

Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was applied to the simultaneous extraction of a wide range of pesticides from food commodities. Extractions were performed by mixing 4 g of sample with 4 g of Hydromatrix and (after optimization) a mixture of ethyl acetate:acetone (3:1, v/v) as extraction solvent, a temperature of 100°C, a pressure of 1000 psi and a static extraction time of 5 min. After extraction, the more polar compounds were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC), and the apolar and semipolar pesticides by gas chromatography (GC); in both cases LC and GC were coupled with mass spectrometry in tandem (MS/MS) mode. The overall method (including the PLE step) was validated in GC and LC according to the criteria of the SANCO Document of the European Commission. The average extraction recoveries (at two concentration levels) for most of the analytes were in the range 70–80%, with precision values usually lower than 15%. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were low enough to determine the pesticide residues at concentrations below or equal to the maximum residue levels (MRL) specified by legislation. In order to assess its applicability to the analysis of real samples, aliquots of 15 vegetable samples were processed using a conventional extraction method with dichloromethane, and the results obtained were compared with the proposed PLE method; differences lower than 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ were found.