Development and Validation of an Analytical Method for Determination of Ergot Alkaloids in Animal Feedingstuffs with High Performance Liquid Chromatography-fluorescence Detection.

A high performance liquid chromatography combined with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method was developed for determination of five ergot alkaloids (EA): ergometrine, ergotamine, ergocornine, ergocrypine and ergocristine in animal feedingstuffs. The method was based on the application of QuEChERS salts for extraction and modified QuEChERS dispersive SPE for the cleanup step. Alkaloids separation was performed on a C18, 250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 μm column with the mobile phase containing ammonium carbonate and acetonitrile. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 330 and 420 nm respectively. The method was validated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and all parameters are in agreement with the requirements of the Decision. Linearity was determined for the concentration range of 25-400 μg/kg. The coefficient of determination (R2) for all curves was from 0.985 to 0.996. The limit of detection (LOD) was in the range 3.23 to 6.53 μg/kg and the limit of quantification (LOQ) from 11.78 to 13.06 μg/kg. The decision limit (CCα) ranged from 29.56 to 43.08 μg/kg and detection capability (CCβ) from 40.65 to 51.01 μg/kg. The highest coefficient of variation (CV) for repeatability was 14.3% and for reproducibility 15.4%.