Development of a New LC–MS/MS Method for Multiple Residues/Contaminants in Bovine Meat

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive and reliable LC–MS/MS method for the determination of 49 veterinary drug residues and other contaminants in bovine meat.  A multi-class, multi-residue/contaminant approach has been developed and validated for determining veterinary medication and pesticide residues, as well as mycotoxins, in bovine meat. Antimicrobials, anabolic hormones, lactones, \(\beta\)-agonists, mycotoxins, and pesticides were among the veterinary drug residues/contaminants. Isotopic labeled internal standards were included to compensate residual matrix effects. The R² of the calibrators employed in the procedure was greater than 0.98, indicating that they were linear.  The decision limit (CC\(\alpha\)) values were in the range from 0.067 to 2103.84 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), while the range for detection capability (CC\(\beta\)) was from 0.083 to 2482.13 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were in the range from 0.059 to 291.36 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), and 0.081 to 328.13 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), respectively. To test the applicability and effectiveness of the developed method the method was applied to the analysis of real bovine meat samples. The approach was used in routine analysis of bovine samples, and it indicated the presence of enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and sulfadiazine at concentrations of 35.22 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), 27.35 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), and 36.20 \(\mu\)\(g/kg\), respectively, in a small number of samples.