Use of mass spectrometry for confirmation of animal drug residues.

Mass spectrometry is a technique capable of providing unambiguous confirmation of drug residues in edible tissues at trace levels. This has led to an increase in the number of new animal drug applications containing a mass spectrometry procedure as the confirmatory test. Written guidelines do not exist to cover the requirements to be met for acceptance of these procedures. The legal, analytical, and practical requirements to be considered in developing and submitting these procedures will be presented on current requirements and past experiences.