Multiclass screening in urine by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry for residues of sulphonamides, beta-agonists and steroids.

Nowadays routine residue monitoring involves the analysis of many compounds from different classes, mainly in urine. In the past two decades, developments heavily focused on the use of mass spectrometers (MS) and faster and more sensitive MS detectors have reached the market. However, chromatographic separation (CS) was rather ignored and the cognate developments in CS were not in line. As a result, residue analysis did not improve to the extent anticipated. CS by LC x LC is a promising technique and will enable a further increase in the range of compounds and compound classes that can be detected in a single run. In the present study, a self-built LC x LC system, using a 10 port valve, was connected to a single quadrupole MS with electrospray interface. Standards containing a mixture of sulphonamides, ß-agonists and (steroid) hormones, 53 compounds, in total, were analysed. Results demonstrated that these compounds were well separated and could be detected at low levels in urine, i.e. limit of detection (LOD) from 1 µg L-1 for most ß-agonists to 10 µg L-1 for some sulphonamides and most hormones. To enhance the sensitivity, optimisation was performed on an advanced commercial LC x LC system connected to a full scan accurate MS. This ultimately resulted in a fast high throughput untargeted method, including a simple sample clean-up in a 96-well format, for the analysis of urine samples.

Confirmatory analysis of Trenbolone using accurate mass measurement with LC/TOF-MS.

The use of accurate mass measurement as a confirmation tool is examined on a TOF-MS and compared with confirmation using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (QqQ-MS). Confirmation of the identity of a substance using mass-spectrometric detection has been described. However, the use of accurate mass measurement for confirmatory analysis has not been taken into account. In this study, criteria for confirmation with accurate mass are proposed and feasibility is demonstrated. Mass accuracy better than 3ppm of the quasi-molecular ion and a fragment and their relative ratios determined with LC/TOF-MS are compared to the criteria of two transition ions and their ratio of LC/QqQ-MS. The results show that these criteria can be met for Trenbolone in samples of bovine urine and that single MS accurate mass measurement is comparable to nominal mass MS/MS for confirmation. The increase in popularity and availability of LC/TOF-MS instruments and the ease, of which exact masses can be measured, make it important to formulate criteria for this type of instrumentation. It is shown in this study that accurate mass measurement can be used for confirmatory analysis. However, more experiments need to be conducted to demonstrate the applicability of accurate mass measurement in general for residue analysis.

Multi-residue screening of a minimum package of anabolic steroids in urine with GC-MS.

The method comprises the screening of two groups of anabolic compounds, the stilbenes and several steroids. All compounds, inclusive their metabolites when possible, for which gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) currently is the preferred analytical technique, are included. Two different derivatives are prepared. One group, including the stilbenes, is detected as HFB derivative (Method 1), the second group is detected as TMS derivative (Method 2). The method is used to perform a qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of a minimum package of anabolic steroids to be included in National Residue Control Plans based on Council Directive 96/23 and complies with the current Minimum Required Performance Limits. The method has been validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The CCalpha and CCbeta values are based on the detection of the most abundant ion. Results of validation experiments are presented. The method is flexible and due to the non-specific sample clean-up more and new anabolic compounds can be easily added in order to new monitoring requirements.

The use of supercritical fluid extraction for the determination of steroids in animal tissues.

A multi-analyte, multi-matrix method was developed for the routine determination of steroids in animal tissues (skin, meat and fat). After addition of internal standards and sample pre-treatment, the analytes of interest were extracted from the matrix with unmodified supercritical CO2 and trapped directly on an alumina sorbent placed in the extraction vessel (in-line trapping under supercritical conditions). After extraction, alkaline hydrolysis was performed and the analytes were derivatised. The samples were then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The limit of detection for the different matrix-analyte combinations was 2 micrograms kg-1 (for melengestrol acetate 5 micrograms kg-1), the repeatability ranged from 4 to 42% (n = 9) and the reproducibility ranged from 2 to 39% (n = 3).

Liquid chromatographic purification and detection of anabolic compounds.

The role of liquid chromatography within methods of analysis for steroids, related compounds and beta-agonists in biological samples is discussed. Special attention is given to the application of liquid chromatography in sample preparation and extract clean-up. Different forms of liquid chromatography, including immunoaffinity chromatography, are compared and evaluated. Methods for confirmation based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and cryotrapping Fourier transform infrared spectrometry are discussed.

Effective monitoring of residues of nortestosterone and its major metabolite in bovine urine and bile.

The results of a newly developed method for the detection and identification of residues of nortestosterone (NT) and one of its major metabolites, 17 alpha-nortestosterone (epiNT) are described. The method is based on sample clean-up by immunoaffinity chromatography and detection by high-performance liquid chromatography and/or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (selected-ion monitoring). All samples of bile from calves that had been treated with NT contained significant amounts of epiNT (6-18 micrograms/l). The NT content of these samples, if detectable, was below 1 microgram/l. Urine contained, with one exception, less than 1 microgram/l epiNT. NT itself if detectable, was, present in urine or bile at levels below 0.1 microgram/l. The results corresponds well with results obtained with a radioimmunoassay procedure.

[The presence of nortestosterone in edible parts from non-castrated male pigs]. / Het voorkomen van nortestosteron in eetbare delen van niet gecastreerde mannelijke varkens.

Nortestosterone is a major growth-promoting agent in Europe which is often used illegally in various species of meat animal. Recent studies showed that this compound was also present in the urine of young male pigs (boars) to which nortestosterone had not been administered. To determine to which extent nortestosterone may also be present in liver and muscle tissues, samples of the urine, bile, liver and muscle of twenty five boars were analysed. The mean and highest concentrations, detected respectively in muscle were 1.1 and 13 micrograms/kg and were 23 and 200 micrograms/kg in liver. The corresponding concentrations in urine were 55 and 132 micrograms/l and 88 and 212 micrograms/l in bile.

Assay for trenbolone and its metabolite 17 alpha-trenbolone in bovine urine based on immunoaffinity chromatographic clean-up and off-line high-performance liquid chromatography-thin-layer chromatography.

An high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method was developed to detect the illegal use of the xenobiotic growth promotor Trenbolone acetate (TBA). Very effective clean-up of bovine urine was achieved by immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC). The active form of TBA, the steroid 17 beta-Trenbolone (17 beta-TB), as well as its major metabolite 17 alpha-Trenbolone (17 alpha-TB), were assayed simultaneously with HPLC and on-line UV detection. The fraction containing 17 alpha-TB and 17 beta-TB (TB-fraction) was collected, and for confirmation 17 beta- and 17 alpha-TB were subsequently separated and identified by TLC. The limit of detection by on-line HPLC-UV (350 nm) was 1-2 micrograms TB/l. Off-line TLC detection was even more sensitive, 0.5 microgram 17 beta- or 17 alpha-TB/1. The assay was validated by investigating urine samples from veal calves implanted with TBA. The presence of 17 beta- and 17 alpha-TB was clearly demonstrated. A survey of the illegal use of TBA in cattle was performed by applying the assay to urine obtained at slaughter. No residues of TBA or its metabolites were found in any of the 144 random samples from the Dutch public health surveillance programme.