A multivariate multianalyte screening method for sulfonamides in milk based on front-face fluorescence spectroscopy

Screening methods are used to detect the presence of a substance or class of substances at the level of interest and are specifically designed to avoid false compliant results. They should allow the running of a high number of samples per day at a low cost under routine conditions. In this work, a rapid and simple method for the screening of six sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, SD; sulfamerazine, SMR; sulfamethazine, SMT; sulfachloropyridazine, SCP; sulfathiazole, STZ and sulfamethoxazole, SMO) in milk samples is proposed and assessed according to the criteria required by the European Regulation, Decision 2002/657/EC. The method is based on modelling front-face fluorescence emission spectra by means of partial least squares class modelling (PLS-CM). The milk samples are pre-treated with a single easy step of derivatization with fluorescamine.After confirming that the method has equal analytical sensitivity for all the six sulfonamides, it is established that the multivariate analytical sensitivity at 100 μg L⁻¹ is 37.5 μg L⁻¹ when analysing a mixture of six sulfonamides added to different brands of milk and measured in different days. In addition, the method is applied to samples from 11 commercial brands of milk. For β = 0.05, threshold value established by the Decision 2002/657/EC for this method, the probability of false non-compliance, α, is equal to 0.17, allowing the suitable screening of these six sulfonamides.     

Three-way models and detection capability of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the determination of clenbuterol in several biological matrices: the 2002/657/EC European Decision

Clenbuterol has been extracted by mixed solid-phase extraction from two biological matrices (bovine hair and urine) and detected by GC/MS (selected ion monitoring (SIM) and full-SCAN modes). The analytical signal has been modelled with univariate and three-way models, namely DTLD, PARAFAC, PARAFAC2, Tucker3 and trilinear PLS. Since clenbuterol is a banned substance a comparative study of the capability of detection (CCβ, X₀=0) has been performed as a function of the sample (hair, 74 μg kg⁻¹ and urine, 0.36 μg l⁻¹), the mode in which the signals are monitored (SCAN, 283 μg kg⁻¹ and SIM, 74 μg kg⁻¹) and the statistical model (univariate, 283 μg kg⁻¹ and trilinear PLS, 20.91 μg kg⁻¹). The capability of detection has been calculated as stated in ISO 11843 and Decision 2002/657/EC setting in all cases the probabilities of false positive and of false negative at 0.05.The identification of the mass spectra must be done to confirm the presence of clenbuterol and has been carried out through PARAFAC. The correlation coefficient between the spectra estimated by PARAFAC and the library spectra is 0.96 (hair, SCAN mode) and 1.00 (hair and urine, SIM mode).The Decision 2002/657/EC advocates the use of independent mass fragments to identify banned compounds. These recommendations together with the effect of the number of ions registered on the capability of detection have lead us to select five uncorrelated fragments (86, 243, 262, 264 and 277) from the data set of 210 ions by hierarchical clustering of variables.     

Validation according to European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC of a confirmatory method for aflatoxin M1 in milk based on immunoaffinity columns and high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorimetric detection for the determination of aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) in milk has been optimized and validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC by using the conventional validation approach. The procedure for determining selectivity, recovery, precision, decision limit (CC_α), detection capability (CC_β) and ruggedness of the method has been reported. The results of the validation process demonstrate the agreement of the method with the provisions of Commission Regulation 401/2006/EC. The mean recovery calculated at three levels of fortification (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5-fold the MRL) was 91% and the maximum relative standard deviation value for the within-laboratory reproducibility was 15%. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) values were 0.006 μg kg⁻¹ and 0.015 μg kg⁻¹ while the CC_α and CC_β values were 0.058 μg kg⁻¹ and 0.065 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. The relative expanded measurement uncertainty of the method was 7%. The method was not affected by slight variations of some critical factors (ruggedness minor changes) as pre-treatment and clean-up of milk samples, thermal treatment and different storage conditions, as well as by major changes valued in terms of milk produced by different species (buffalo, goat and sheep). The method allowed accurate confirmation analyses of milk samples, resulted positive by the screening method. In fact, the Z-score values attained in a proficiency test round were well below the reference value of 1, proving the excellent laboratory performances.     

Rapid multi-residue method for the quantitative determination and confirmation of glucocorticosteroids in bovine milk using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

Dexamethasone, betamethasone and prednisolone are synthetic glucocorticosteroids authorised for therapeutic use in bovine animals within the European Union. Dexamethasone and betamethasone are used mainly for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Prednisolone is used to treat bovine mastitis. Maximum residue limits (MRLs) of 0.3 μg kg⁻¹ for both dexamethasone and betamethasone and 6.0 μg kg⁻¹ for prednisolone in bovine milk have been established. 6α-Methylprednisolone and flumethasone are not authorised for use in bovine animals and are completely banned in bovine milk. The proposed method is based on deprotenisation of milk using 20% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid. Samples are filtered using glass microfibre filters and subject to clean-up using OASIS HLB solid phase extraction. Separation was achieved on a Hypercarb 100 mm × 2.1 mm × 5 μm column. Mobile phase was: 90/10 acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid in water; flow rate was 600 μL min⁻¹. The method allowed the rapid identification and confirmation of the five glucocorticosteroids according to the criteria laid down in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Matrix calibration curves for all compounds were linear in the interval 0.0 MRL to 2.0 MRL with a correlation coefficient (r²) higher than 0.96. Relative recoveries ranged from 97% for betamethasone to 111% for prednisolone. Precision at the MRL ranged from 3.8% for prednisolone to 13.8% for betamethasone. Decision limits, CCα, and detection capability, CCβ have been calculated for all compounds.     

Determination of anthelmintic drug residues in milk using ultra high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with rapid polarity switching

A new UHPLC–MS/MS (ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry) method was developed and validated to detect 38 anthelmintic drug residues, consisting of benzimidazoles, avermectins and flukicides. A modified QuEChERS-type extraction method was developed with an added concentration step to detect most of the analytes at <1 μg kg⁻¹ levels in milk. Anthelmintic residues were extracted into acetonitrile using magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride to induce liquid–liquid partitioning followed by dispersive solid phase extraction for cleanup. The extract was concentrated into dimethyl sulphoxide, which was used as a keeper to ensure analytes remain in solution. Using rapid polarity switching in electrospray ionisation, a single injection was capable of detecting both positively and negatively charged ions in a 13 min run time. The method was validated at two levels: the unapproved use level and at the maximum residue level (MRL) according to Commission Decision (CD) 2002/657/EC criteria. The decision limit (CCα) of the method was in the range of 0.14–1.9 and 11–123 μg kg⁻¹ for drugs validated at unapproved and MRL levels, respectively. The performance of the method was successfully verified for benzimidazoles and levamisole by participating in a proficiency study.     

Fluorescence quantification of tetracycline in the presence of quenching matrix effect by means of a four-way model

In this work, a four-way tensor is used to model the quenching effect in fluorescent measurements. By means of the analysis of excitation-emission matrices obtained in the determination of tetracycline in tea, which acts as quencher, it is shown as the impossibility to use a calibration, or an addition standard based on a three-way model. It is analysed the quencher multiplicative effect made on the tetracycline signal by means of an ANOVA. However, by arranging the experimental data in a four-way tensor, it is viable to perform a calibration based on the parallel factor analysis, PARAFAC, decomposition and a four-way partial least squares, 4-PLS, regression to quantify the tetracycline in the presence of the matrix quencher effect. 4-PLS calibration provides better results. In the range from 40 to 220 μg L⁻¹ gives an average of relative errors in absolute value equal to 8.02% in prediction (3.40% in calibration). The repeatability as standard deviation in this range is 5.08 μg L⁻¹ and the method is accurate, slope and intercept being statistically equal to 1 and 0, respectively when a regression calculated versus true concentration is performed. Moreover, it has a decision limit (CCα) of 13.87 μg L⁻¹ for a probability of false positive, α, equal to 0.05 and a capability of detection (CCβ) of 26.63 μg L⁻¹ (for probabilities of false positive, α, false negative, β, equals to 0.05).     

Trace determination of sulfonamides residues in meat with a combination of solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

An integrated method of combining solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was evaluated for determination trace amount of sulfonamides in meat products. Eight commonly used sulfonamides, sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfamerazine (SMR), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfamonomethoxine (SMMX), sulfamethoxazole (SMXZ), sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) and sulfadimethoxine (SDMX), were investigated in this study. Chromatography was performed on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using an isocratic acetonitrile in water as the mobile phase. Fiber coated with a 65 μm thickness of polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) was used to extract sulfonamides at optimum conditions. Analytes were desorbed with static desorption in an SPME-HPLC desorbed chamber for 15 min and then determined by LC-MS. The detection limits of these sulfonamides in pork were from 16 μg kg⁻¹ (SMT) to 39 μg kg⁻¹ (SMMX). According to the analysis, the linear range was from 50 to 2000 μg kg⁻¹ with relative standard deviation (R.S.D.s) value below 15% (intra-day) and 19% (inter-day). The proposed method was tested by analyzing meats from a local market for sulfonamides residues. Some sulfonamides in our study were detected in the meat samples. The concentration of these residual sulfonamides ranged from 66 μg kg⁻¹ (SDZ) to 157 μg kg⁻¹ (SQX) in a chicken sample. The results demonstrate that the SPME-LC-MS system is highly effective in analyzing trace sulfonamides in meat products.     

Transfer assessment of fipronil residues from feed to cow milk

Fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide introduced for pest control on a broad range of crops, can also affect non-target insects such as honeybees. More widely, non-target environment such as milk produced by dairy cows fed with maize silage from treated seeds (=silage T) can be affected. To assess the potential transfer of fipronil residues (sulfone, sulfide, fipronil, desulfinyl and amide), a methodology including gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis was developed and validated according to the 2002/657/EC decision, in order to reach a level of quantification below 0.1 μg L⁻¹ in milk and 0.1 μg kg⁻¹ in plants. Twelve dairy cows were fed with silage T during 4 months. Concentration of fipronil in treated seeds was estimated at 1 g kg⁻¹, whereas silage from these seeds contained 0.30 ± 0.05 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material of fipronil, 0.13 ± 0.03 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material of sulfone. Sulfide residues were below the limit of quantification. Silage from untreated seeds (=silage U) presented traces of fipronil and sulfone, respectively at 0.04 ± 0.06 and 0.02 ± 0.03 μg kg⁻¹ of dry material. Contribution of fipronil residues from supplies was insignificant. During administration of silage T, only sulfone residues were quantified in milk. The average concentration was 0.14 ± 0.05 μg L⁻¹. Before and after administration, sulfone residues were detected but not quantifiable (<0.025 μg L⁻¹). Our results suggest a transfer of fipronil from feed to milk under its sulfone form. Moreover, traces of fipronil residues in maize U, soya, wheat and straw show a diffuse contamination of this pesticide in the environment.     

Trace analysis of endectocides in milk by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

An analytical method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of the following endectocide drugs in milk: ivermectin, abamectin, doramectin, moxidectin, eprinomectin, emamectin and nemadectin. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile, purified with solid-phase extraction on a reversed phase C₈, derivatised with N-methylimidazole, trifluoroacetic anhydride and acetic acid to a stable fluorescent derivative, and were further analysed by gradient high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an endcapped reversed phase Supelcosil LC-8-DB. The derivatisation step was mathematically optimised and the method was validated according to the requirements of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, using fortified raw bovine milk. Mean recovery was between 78 and 98%. The repeatability (CV_r) and within-laboratory reproducibility (CV_W) ranged from 4.6 to 13.4% and from 6.6 to 14.5%, respectively. Decision limits (CCα) for analytes with MRL values, namely eprinomectin and moxidectin, were determined to be 24.8 and 50.6 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. CCα values for unauthorised endectocides ranged from 0.1 to 0.2 μg kg⁻¹. Due to high acceptability regarding the required criteria and applicability to ovine and caprine milk, giving similar results, this multi-analyte method has been successfully implemented in pharmacokinetic research studies as well as statutory residue monitoring in Slovenia.     

Detection capability of tetracyclines analysed by a fluorescence technique: comparison between bilinear and trilinear partial least squares models

According to the committee decision of 12 August 2002 (2002/657/EC) the capability of detection, CCβ, must be set in all analytical methods not only at concentration levels close to zero but also at the maximum permitted limit (PL). In this work we describe a methodology which evaluates the capability of detection of a fluorescence technique with soft calibration models (bilinear and trilinear PLS) to determine tetracyclines (group B1 substances from annex 1 of Directive 96/23/EC). Its estimation is based on the generalisation of the procedure described in International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and in the ISO standard 11843 for univariate signals which evaluates the probabilities of false positive (α) and false negative (β). The capability of detection, CCβ, estimated from the second-order signal and the trilinear PLS model is 9.93 μg l⁻¹ of tetracycline, 17.75 μg l⁻¹ of oxytetracycline and 26.31 μg l⁻¹ of chlortetracycline, setting α and β at 0.05. The capability of detection, CCβ, determined around the PL (100 μg kg⁻¹ in milk and muscle) with the second-order signal is 109.4 μg l⁻¹ of tetracycline, 117.0 μg l⁻¹ of oxytetracycline and 124.9 μg l⁻¹ of chlortetracycline, setting α and β at 0.05. The results were compared with those obtained with zero and first-order signals. The effect of the interferences on the capability of detection was also analysed as well as the number of standards used to build the models and their calibration range.When a tetracycline is quantified in presence of uncalibrated ones by means of the trilinear PLS model the errors oscillate between 14.70% for TC and 9.57% for OTC.     

TS-FF-AAS and multivariate calibration: A proposition for sewage sludge slurry sample analyses

This work describes a methodology for Cd and Pb determination in sewage sludge slurry samples using thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS). The TS-FF-AAS system was equipped with a Ni tube atomizer placed on an oxidizing air/acetylene flame. Two multivariate calibration models based on partial least squares (PLS) were proposed using total peak profiles (recorded during 57 s). Metals concentration in the sewage sludge samples were from 1.87 to 6.26 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd and from 101 to 327 mg kg⁻¹ for Pb. The limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 0.2 and 0.7 μg kg⁻¹ for Cd and 8 and 26 μg kg⁻¹ for Pb. These values were three times lower than the limits found when these metals were calibrated using linear calibration with aqueous standard solutions.     

Analysis of interferents by means a D-optimal screening design and calibration using partial least squares regression in the spectrophotometric determination of Cr(VI)

Using a central composite design, the signal of the process for the spectrophotometric determination of hexavalent chromium (λ = 543 nm) is maximised and its variability minimised using as complexing agent 1,5-diphenylcarbazide in sufficiently acid medium. To analyse the interference of various analytes (Mo(VI), V(V), Fe(III) and Mn(VII)) on the Cr(VI) as a function of concentration of interferent, a factorial design was prepared at three levels of each (zero, medium and high concentration), which implies performing 81 determinations. However, a D-optimal design with just nine experiments is sufficiently good to estimate the model proposed.The interference of these metals makes it impossible to determine Cr(VI) when they are present in the sample. To avoid prior separation steps, a multivariate regression by partial least squares, PLS, is proposed to calibrate the Cr(VI) in the presence of these analytes varying the concentration of the Cr(VI) between 0.1 and 0.9 μg ml⁻¹ and that of the interferents between 3 and 5 μg ml⁻¹. The average errors obtained were 4.5% and 3.29% fitted and in prediction, respectively, with a standard error in prediction (RMSEP) of 0.016% presenting absence of both constant and proportional bias.The detection limit with the PLS regression in the presence of interferents is 0.1 μg ml⁻¹ with a probability of false positive equal to 5% and less than 5% for false negative. The capability of detection is similar to that obtained with the univariate calibration (absorbance at 543 nm) in absence of interferents.With the PLS regression it is possible to discriminate 0.085 μg ml⁻¹ of Cr(VI) in a sample with 0.5 μg ml⁻¹ of Cr(VI) with probabilities of false compliance and false non-compliance equal to 0.05. For the univariate calibration without interferents, it was established at 0.0971 μg ml⁻¹ of Cr(VI) for the same nominal concentration.In relation to interference of V(V), Fe(III) and Mn(VII), the PLS calibration could be an efficient alternative to the separation step for Cr(VI) spectrophotometric determination using 1,5-diphenylcarbazide.     

Biosensor analysis of penicillin G in milk based on the inhibition of carboxypeptidase activity

The β-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins, are the most important antimicrobial substances used for mastitis treatment. Consequently, this is also the most frequently occurring type of antibiotic residues in milk. Today, in addition to the traditional microbial inhibitor tests, rapid and sensitive receptor and immunoassays are used in residue control. Due to the limitations in throughput capacity of these tests, recent applications of automated biosensor technology in food analysis are of great interest.A surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor (Biacore) was used to design an inhibition assay to detect β-lactam antibiotics in milk. A microbial receptor protein with carboxypeptidase activity was used as detection molecule. One advantage of using this receptor protein over antibodies that are more commonly used is that only the active, intact β-lactam structure is recognized, whereas most antibodies detect both active and inactive forms. In the presence of β-lactam antibiotics the formation of a stable complex between receptor protein and antibiotic inhibits the enzymatic activity of the protein. The decrease in enzymatic activity was measured using an antibody against the degraded substrate and penicillin G in milk samples was quantitatively determined. The limit of detection of the assay for penicillin G was determined to 2.6 μg kg⁻¹ for antibiotic-free producer milk, which is below the European maximum residue limit (MRL) of 4 μg kg⁻¹. The coefficient of variation at 4 μg kg⁻¹ penicillin G, ranged between 7.3 and 16% on three different days.     

In-house validation of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for determination of semicarbazide in eggs and stability of analyte in matrix

An improved LC-MS/MS method for the determination of semicarbazide in whole egg is described. Waters OASIS-MCX cation exchange purification cartridges increased the sensitivity for analysis by LC-MS/MS. The validation study was carried out according to criteria and requirements of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC for confirmatory analysis and provided the data as follows: The correlation coefficient for the matrix calibration curve, in the range of 0–5 μg kg⁻¹, was r = 0.9968. The detection capability and decision limit, measured according to ISO11843-2, were CCα = 0.20 μg kg⁻¹ and CCβ = 0.25 μg kg⁻¹. Repeatability (CVSr) and within-laboratory reproducibility (CVSwr) determined for the concentration levels of 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 μg kg⁻¹ SEM ranged from 11.9 to 5.7% and 11.8 to 6.3%, respectively. The validated method was applied to investigate SEM stability in incurred materials (egg homogenates) during long-term storage at −20 °C and 4 °C. The study proved by a two-sampling test that SEM at levels of 17. 7, 1.2, 10.6 and 0.47 μg kg⁻¹ was stable for up to 12 months.     

Determination of quinolone antimicrobial agents in strongly overlapped peaks from capillary electrophoresis using multivariate calibration methods

This paper describes a new procedure for the determination of quinolones ciprofloxacin and sarafloxacin in chicken muscle samples. It is based on a previously developed capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation, in which all the quinolones regulated by EU Council Regulation number 2377/90 could be separated. However, as ciprofloxacin and sarafloxacin coelute in the CZE run and they have strongly overlapped spectra, separation between them is not possible.To overcome this problem, we have used a multivariate calibration procedure (partial least square regression (PLS-2)), applied to the spectra obtained at the maximum of the electrophoretic peaks, by using a diode array detector. The method has been validated by a combination of pure standards and fortified blank chicken muscle extracts. The recoveries obtained in the validation set were 101±6 and 93±6% for sarafloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The method has been also applied to chicken muscle samples, fortified at concentration levels between 100 and 350 μg kg⁻, corresponding to values near the maximum residue level (MRL) regulated by the European Community.     

Validation of a multi-residue liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry confirmatory method for 10 anticoccidials in eggs according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection and confirmation of halofuginone, robenidine, diclazuril, nicarbazin, monensin, narasin, lasalocid, salinomycin, maduramicin and semduramicin in whole egg has been developed and validated. The anticoccidial residues were extracted by acetonitrile, evaporated and dissolved in a sodium acetate/acetonitrile mixture. Then, the samples were injected on a C8 column in a gradient mode. Diclazuril-bis, DNC-d8 and nigericin were used as internal standards. The results of the full validation in accordance with the guidelines of the Commission Decision no 2002/657/EC are presented. This rapid and sensitive method was found suitable to confirm the anticoccidials at 1 and at 75 μg kg⁻¹ for the MRL compound lasalocid.     

Determination of flunixin and ketoprofen in milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A relatively fast, simple and very selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for the detection of flunixin, its 5-hydroxymetabolite and ketoprofen in raw milk has been developed and validated. After a simple extraction with acetonitrile and partial evaporation of the organic phase, the extract was filtered and directly injected into the LC-MS-MS system on a Symmetry C₁₈ column. The parent ions were selected for further fragmentation with argon. The method developed was partially validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC [Commission Decision 2002/657/EC implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC concerning the performance of analytical methods and the interpretation of results]. The validation parameters were linearity, specificity, repeatability, recovery and decision limit (CCα). CCα varied from 0.5 μg kg⁻¹ for flunixin and 5-hydroxyflunixin to 1 μg kg⁻¹ for ketoprofen.Holstein-Friesian cows were given either Ketofen^® or Finadyne^® via an intravenous injection at the maximum dose as written in the instructions. Cows were milked twice a day and all samples were analysed by the method described. The highest concentrations found for ketoprofen, flunixin and 5-hydroxyflunixin were 2.5, 6.7 and 590 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The concentration of 5-hydroxyflunixin declined rapidly to concentrations below the MRL value of 40 μg l⁻¹. It can be concluded that the withdrawal time proposed by the pharmaceutical companies, 12 h after the last dosing, is acceptable for both compounds.     

Multi-residue method for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in fish feed based on a cleanup approach followed by gas chromatography–triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

A multi-residue method for the determination of organochlorine pesticides in fish feed samples was developed and optimized. The method is based on a cleanup step of the extracted fat, carried out by liquid–liquid extraction on diatomaceous earth cartridge with n-hexane/acetonitrile (80/20, v/v) followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) with silica gel–SCX cartridge, before the identification and quantification of the residues by gas chromatography–triple quadrupole tandem spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Performance characteristics, such as accuracy, precision, linear range, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), for each pesticide were determined. Instrumental LODs ranged from 0.01 to 0.11 μg L⁻¹, LOQs were in the range of 0.02–0.35 μg L⁻¹, and calibration curves were linear (r² > 0.999) in the whole range of explored concentrations (5–100 μg L⁻¹). Repeatability values were in the range of 3–15%, evaluated from the relative standard deviation of six samples spiked at 100 μg kg⁻¹ of fat, and in compliance with that derived by the Horwitz's equation. No matrix effects or interfering substances were observed in fish feed analyses. The proposed method allowed high recoveries (92–116%) of spiked extracted fat samples at 100 μg kg⁻¹, and very low LODs (between 0.02 and 0.63 μg kg⁻¹) and LOQs (between 0.05 and 2.09 μg kg⁻¹) determined in fish feed samples.     

Multiresidue analysis of sulfonamides in meat by supramolecular solvent microextraction,liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection and method validation according to the 2002/657/EC decision

A multiresidue method was described for determining eight sulfonamides, SAs (sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline) in animal muscle tissues (pork, chicken, turkey, lamb and beef) at concentrations below the maximum residue limit (100 μg kg⁻¹) set by the European Commission. The method was based on the microextraction of SAs in 300-mg muscle samples with 1 mL of a supramolecular solvent made up of reverse micelles of decanoic acid (DeA) and posterior determination of SAs in the extract by LC/fluorescence detection, after in situ derivatization with fluorescamine. Recoveries were quantitative (98–109%) and matrix-independent, no concentration of the extracts was required, the microextraction took about 30 min and several samples could be simultaneously treated. Formation of multiple hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic groups of the solvent and the target SAs (hydrogen donor and acceptor sum between 9 and 11) were considered as the major forces driving microextraction. The method was validated according to the European Union regulation 2002/657/EC. Analytical performance in terms of linearity, selectivity, trueness, precision, stability of SAs, decision limit and detection capability were determined. Quantitation limits for the different SAs ranged between 12 μg kg⁻¹ and 44 μg kg⁻¹, they being nearly independent of matrix composition. Repeatability and reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation, were in the ranges 1.8–3.6% and 3.3–6.1%. The results of the validation process proved that the method is suitable for determining sulfonamide residues in surveillance programs.     

Validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous determination of tetracyclines residues in bovine milk

A high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection method was optimized and validated to determine tetracyclines residues in bovine milk. Post-column derivatization using metal complexation in non-aqueous reagent increased the fluorescence of chelates by a factor up to 2.54 compared to water (signal-to-noise ratio enhancement). Overall recoveries ranged from 61 to 115%, with RSD_r from 5 to 15% (n = 54). Detection limits ranged from 5 to 35 μg kg⁻¹. Limits of quantification were established at 50 μg kg⁻¹. Decision limits (CCα) were 109, 108 and 124 μg kg⁻¹ and detection capabilities (CCβ) 119, 117 and 161 μg kg⁻¹ for oxytetracycline, tetracycline and chlortetracycline, respectively. The method was applied successfully in a national monitoring program.