Determination of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol and florfenicol amine in poultry, swine, bovine and fish by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for confirmatory and quantitative purposes using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed and validated for determination of chloramphenicol, thiamphenicol, florfenicol and its metabolite, florfenicol amine, in poultry, swine, bovine and fish muscle. Sample preparation was based on extraction with organic solvent (ethyl acetate: ammonium hydroxide, 98:2) followed by evaporation and fat removal using hexane. The chromatographic separation was carried out with an XTerra C18 column with a gradient elution using water and acetonitrile both with 2mM of ammonium acetate. Mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization was operated in positive or negative polarity using selected-reaction monitoring (SRM) analysis mode, achieving the requirements of four identification points for each compound. Chloramphenicol-D5 was added as internal standard. Method validation was performed according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Parameters as precision, reproducibility, trueness, CCα and CCβ were determined. Trueness values were within the range 82-108% and 84-111% for bovine and fish, respectively. Precision ranged from 1.1% to 10.1% and within-laboratory reproducibility ranged from 4.3 to 18.1%, depending on matrix. The CCα and CCβ for bovine muscle, for instance, were established as 0.06 and 0.11μgkg(-1), respectively. The method was successfully applied for several interlaboratory proficiency testing programs, achieving 100% of satisfactory results.