Rapid method for multi-residue determination of avermectins in bovine liver using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A simple method using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection is presented for the simultaneous determination of the antiparasitic agents avermectins (abamectin, ivermectin and doramectin) in bovine liver. Samples were extracted using acetonitrile and cleaned up on an alumina SPE column and derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride. The derivatives were detected using fluorescence detector set at 365 nm excitation and 475 nm emission wavelengths. As the results, the limit of quantification for three avermectins was about 1 microg/kg. Inter-assay showed the mean recoveries of avermectins in bovine liver ranged from 72% to 81%, with RSD less than 9.9%.