A. Rúbies

High-throughput multiclass method for antibiotic residue analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry☆

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the residue analysis of 39 antibiotics (tetracyclines, quinolones, penicillins, sulfonamides and macrolides) in foodstuffs of animal origin. The method combines an effective extraction technique, which uses water-methanol as extracting solvent, with ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, allowing both confirmation and quantification in a single chromatographic run. The multiresidue method has been validated in chicken muscle matrix according to European Union Decision 2002/657/EC. It has been implemented as a routine method in a Public Health Laboratory, instead of the five plates test and LC methods previously used.

Development and validation of a multiclass method for the analysis of antibiotic residues in eggs by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A multiclass method for the analysis of residues, in egg matrices, of 41 antimicrobial agents belonging to seven families (sulfonamides, diaminopyridine derivates, quinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, penicillins and lincosamides) was developed and validated according to the requirements of European Commission Decision 2002/657. Compounds were extracted with a pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technique using a 1:1 mixture of acetonitrile and a succinic acid buffer (pH 6.0) at 70 °C. As this resulted in clear extracts, no further clean-up was necessary. Analytes were determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPL-MS/MS) in a chromatographic run of 13 min. Calibration was carried out with spiked blank samples subjected to the entire analytical procedure. Five compounds, two of them isotopically labelled, were used as internal standards. Most analytes were quantified with errors below 10%. Precision in terms of reproducibility standard deviation was between 10% and 20% in most cases. CCα values were in the range 0.5-3.8 μg kg⁻¹ for the non-authorized compounds. The proposed method would enable an experienced analyst to process about 25 samples per day.

Targeted analysis with benchtop quadrupole-orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer: application to determination of synthetic hormones in animal urine.

Sensitive and unequivocal determination of analytes/contaminants in complex matrices is a challenge in the field of food safety control. In this study, various acquisition modes (Full MS/AIF, Full MS+tMS/MS, Full MS/dd MS/MS and tSIM/ddMS/MS) and parameters of a quadrupole-orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer (Q Exactive) were studied in detail. One of the main conclusions has been that, reducing the scan range for Full MS (using the quadrupole) and targeted modes give higher signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios and thereby better detection limits for analytes in matrix. The use of Q Exactive in a complex case, for the confirmatory analysis of hormones in animal urine is presented. A targeted SIM data dependent MS/MS (tSIM/ddMS/MS) acquisition method for determination of eight synthetic hormones (trenbolone, 17α ethinylestradiol, zeranol, stanozolol, dienestrol, diethylstilbestrol, hexestrol, taleranol) and a naturally occurring hormone (zearalenone) in animal urine were optimized to have sensitive precursors from targeted SIM mode and trigger MS/MS scans over the entire chromatograph peak. The method was validated according to EC/657/2002. CCα (decision limit) for the analytes ranged between 0.11 μg L(-1) and 0.69 μg L(-1) and CCβ (detection capability) ranged between 0.29 μg L(-1) and 0.90 μg L(-1).

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography for the analysis of aminoglycosides.

The effect of mobile-phase constituents (pH and ionic strength) and chromatographic behaviour of ten aminoglycosides (streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, spectinomycin, apramycin, paramomycin, kanamycin A, gentamycin C1, gentamycin C2/C2a, gentamycin C1a and neomycin) in the bare silica, amino, amide and zwitterionic phases of hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) were studied systematically. Among the stationary phases studied, the zwitterionic phase provided the best separation of aminoglycosides. The effect of pH, ionic concentration and column temperature on retention time, peak shape and sensitivity was studied using a central composite design. pH affected sensitivity of the detection of analytes but not the retention time. High ionic strength in the mobile phase was necessary to control the ionic interactions between ionised aminoglycosides and the hydrophilic phase, thereby influencing peak shape and retention time. Column temperature affected sensitivity of the detection but not the retention time. During method development, crosstalk between the MS/MS channels of the analytes was observed and resolved.

Determination of aminoglycoside residues in kidney and honey samples by hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

Two methods based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were developed for the determination of ten aminoglycosides (streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, spectinomycin, apramycin, paromomycin, kanamycin A, gentamycin C1, gentamycin C2/C2a, gentamycin C1a, and neomycin B) in kidney samples from food-producing animals and in honey samples. The methods involved extraction with an aqueous solution (for the kidney samples) or sample dissolution in water (for the honey samples), solid-phase extraction with a weak cation exchange cartridge and injection of the eluate into a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. A zwitterionic hydrophilic interaction chromatography column was used for separation of aminoglycosides and a triple quadrupole mass analyzer was used for detection. The methods were validated according to Decision 2002/657/EC. The limits of quantitation ranged from 2 to 125 μg/kg in honey and 25 to 264 μg/kg in the kidney samples. Interday precision (RSD%) ranged from 6 to 26% in honey and 2 to 21% in kidney. Trueness, expressed as the percentage of error, ranged from 7 to 20% in honey and 1 to 11% in kidney.

Analysis of thyreostatic drugs in thyroid samples by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection.

A method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of six thyreostatic drugs in thyroid tissue has been optimised and validated in accordance with the Decision 2002/657/EC. Samples are extracted with methanol and the extracts cleaned-up on silica cartridges. The recoveries range from 40% for 6-phenyl-2-thiouracil to 79% for 2-thiouracil. Quantification is carried out with blank tissue samples spiked with the analytes in the range 25-500 microg kg(-1). 5,6-Dimethyl-2-thiouracil is used as internal standard. CCalpha and CCbeta are in the ranges 4.3-16.1 microg kg(-1) and 8.7-20.7 microg kg(-1), respectively. Accuracy, expressed as percentage of error, is lower than 6% and relative standard deviation in reproducibility conditions falls between 5.6 and 10.3%. Nowadays, the proposed method is routinely implemented in the laboratory of the Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona and allows processing of up to 20 samples per day.

Analysis of thyreostatic drugs in thyroid samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry: comparison of two sample treatment strategies.

A method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the determination of six thyreostatic drugs in thyroid tissue has been optimised and validated in accordance with Decision 2002/657/EC. Sample extraction was evaluated in methanol and in ethyl acetate, the latter which gave better results. Two clean-up strategies were compared: one based on silica cartridges (SPE), and the other, on gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Recoveries ranged from 40% to 79% for the SPE approach and from 80% to 109% for GPC. Quantification was performed with blank tissue samples spiked with the analytes in the range 50-500microgkg(-1). 5,6-Dimethyl-2-thiouracil and 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-d(4) were used as internal standards. Decision limit (CCalpha) and detection capability (CCbeta) ranged from 1 to 15microgkg(-1) and from 6 to 25microgkg(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the method was calculated as percent error, which was less than 10%. The relative standard deviation in reproducibility conditions ranged between 2% and 14%.

The Power of Hyphenated Chromatography/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry in Public Health Laboratories

Laboratories devoted to the public health field have to face the analysis of a large number of organic contaminants/residues in many different types of samples. Analytical techniques applied in this field are normally focused on quantification of a limited number of analytes. At present, most of these techniques are based on gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Using these techniques only analyte-specific information is acquired, and many other compounds that might be present in the samples would be ignored. In this paper, we explore the potential of time-of-flight (TOF) MS hyphenated to GC or LC to provide additional information, highly useful in this field. Thus, all positives reported by standard reference targeted LC-MS/MS methods were unequivocally confirmed by LC-QTOF MS. Only 61% of positives reported by targeted GC-MS/MS could be confirmed by GC-TOF MS, which was due to its lower sensitivity as nonconfirmations corresponded to analytes that were present at very low concentrations. In addition, the use of TOF MS allowed searching for additional compounds in large-scope screening methodologies. In this way, different contaminants/residues not included in either LC or GC tandem MS analyses were detected. This was the case of the insecticide thiacloprid, the plant growth regulator paclobutrazol, the fungicide prochloraz, or the UV filter benzophenone, among others. Finally, elucidation of unknowns was another of the possibilities offered by TOF MS thanks to the accurate-mass full-acquisition data available when using this technique.

New method for the analysis of lipophilic marine biotoxins in fresh and canned bivalves by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry: a quick, easy, cheap, efficient, rugged, safe approach.

A new method for the analysis of lipophilic marine biotoxins (okadaic acid, dinophysistoxins, azaspiracids, pectenotoxins, yessotoxins, spirolids) in fresh and canned bivalves has been developed. A QuEChERS methodology is applied; i.e. the analytes are extracted with acetonitrile and clean-up of the extracts is performed by dispersive solid phase extraction with C18. The extracts are analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer, operating in tandem mass spectrometry mode, with resolution set at 70,000 (m/z 200, FWHM). Separation of the analytes, which takes about 10min, is carried out in gradient elution mode with a BEH C18 column and mobile phases based on 6.7mM ammonia aqueous solution and acetonitrile mixtures. For each analyte the molecular ion and 1 or 2 product ions are acquired, with a mass accuracy better than 5ppm. The quantification is performed using surrogate matrix matched standards, with eprinomectin as internal standard. The high-throughput method, which has been successfully validated, fulfills the requirements of European Union legislation, and has been implemented as a routine method in a public health laboratory.

Determination of avermectins: a QuEChERS approach to the analysis of food samples.

We present a simple method for extracting avermectines from meat, based on a QuEChERS approach followed by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to triple quadrupole (QqQ) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The compounds considered are ivermectin, abamectin, emamectin, eprinomectin, doramectin and moxidectin. The new method has been fully validated according to the requirements of European Decision 657/2002/CE (EU, 2002). The method is suitable for the analysis of avermectins at concentration as low as 2.5 μg kg(-1), and allows high sample throughput. In addition, the detection of avermectins by high resolution mass spectrometry using a quadrupole-Orbritrap (Q-Orbitrap) hybrid instrument has been explored, and the target Selected Ion Monitoring data dependent MS/MS (t-SIM-dd MS/MS) mode has been found to provide excellent performance for residue determination of target analytes.