Development and validation of confirmatory method for analysis of nitrofuran metabolites in milk, honey, poultry meat and fish by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this study we have devoloped and validated a confirmatory analysis method for nitrofuran metabolites, which is in accordance with European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC requirements. Nitrofuran metabolites in honey, milk, poultry meat and fish samples were acidic hydrolised followed by derivatisation with nitrobenzaldehyde and liquid-liquid extracted with ethylacetate. The quantitative and confirmative determination of nitrofuran metbolites was performed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) in the positive ion mode. In-house method validation was performed and reported data of validation (specificity, linearity, recovery, CCα and CCβ). The advantage of this method is that it avoids the use of clean-up by Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE). Furthermore, low levels of nitrofuran metabolites are detectable and quantitatively confirmed at a rapid rate in all samples.

Keywords

• fish
• honey
• LC-MS/MS
• milk
• nitrofuran metabolites
• poultry meat