Food contaminant analysis at high resolution mass spectrometry: application for the determination of veterinary drugs in milk.

Veterinary drugs (VDs) can remain in milk as a consequence of their use in livestock. In order to control the levels of VD residues in milk, screening methodologies can be applied for a rapid discrimination among negative and non-negative samples. In a second stage, non-negative samples are classified as negative or positive samples by using a confirmation method. Pre-target screening methods in low resolution MS (LRMS) are normally applied, but the number of analytes is limited, whereas the information obtained by full scan acquisition in high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is improved. Here, three screening methods (running time<4 min) based on Orbitrap, quadrupole-time of flight (QqTOF) and triple quadrupole (QqQ) have been compared, using in all cases ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). For HRMS, the identification of the VDs was based on retention time (RT) and accurate mass measurements. Confirmation was based on the monitoring of fragments generated without precursor selection. The performance characteristics of the screening method provided reliable information regarding the presence or absence of the compounds below an established value, including uncertainty region and cut-off values. Better results in terms of cut-off values (≤ 5.0 µg kg(-1), except for spiramycin with a cut-off of 13.4 µg kg(-1) for milk samples and 43.1 µg kg(-1) for powdered milk based, emamectin with a cut-off of 42.2 µg kg(-1) for milk samples and doxycycline, with a cut-off value of 15.8 µg kg(-1) in powdered milk-based infant formulae) and uncertainty region were obtained using the Orbitrap-based screening method, which was submitted to further validation and used to analyze different real milk samples. The proposed method can be used in routine analysis, providing reliable results.

Comparison of the efficiency of different extraction methods for the simultaneous determination of mycotoxins and pesticides in milk samples by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid multi-analyte method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of pesticides and mycotoxins in milk by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). A variety of methodologies has been evaluated, including solid-phase extraction (SPE), "dilute-and-shoot" (liquid-liquid extraction-based procedures), and QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe)-based methods. The optimization and development process was carried out considering that the maximum residue level for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk in the European Union (EU) is set at 0.05 µg kg(-1), which is the lowest tolerance in the target compounds. The selected method consisted of an extraction by SPE using C18 as sorbent and methanol as elution solvent. The final determination was performed by UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for quantification, obtaining recoveries in the range 60-120% with relative standard deviations <25%, at three spiking levels: 0.5, 10, and 50 µg kg(-1) (ten times lower for AFM1). Limits of quantification ranged from 0.20 to 0.67 µg kg(-1), which were always below or equal to the established tolerance levels by the EU. Finally, the selected method was applied to different types of milk.

Determination of ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in alcoholic beverages by hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction and ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

A new method for the determination of ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in alcoholic beverages (wine and beer) by hollow fiber liquid microextraction was optimized. The extraction step was followed by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The extraction procedure was based on the extraction of mycotoxins from the sample to the organic solvent (1-octanol) immobilized in the fiber, and afterwards, they were desorbed in a mixture of acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v) at pH 7 prior to chromatographic determination. Different variables affecting the extraction process such as organic solvent, salt content, extraction time and desorption solution were studied. The developed method was validated in wine and beer, using white wine and alcoholic beer as representative matrices for both types of samples. Relative recoveries higher than 70% were obtained for the selected mycotoxins. Good linearity (R(2)>0.993) was obtained and quantification limits (0.02-0.09 microg L(-1)) below European regulatory levels were achieved. Repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was always lower than 12%, whereas interday precision was lower than 21%. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of several types of wines and beers and ochratoxin A was detected in a rosé wine at 1.1 microg L(-1).

Application of conventional solid-phase extraction for multimycotoxin analysis in beers by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new analytical method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1, fumonisins B1 and B2, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin A, HT-2 and T-2 toxins, and zearalenone) in beers. Mycotoxins were extracted by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using C18 as the cartridge. Several parameters such as type of sorbent, elution solvent, and dilution of the sample were evaluated. The separation and determination were carried out by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The method was validated, and mean recoveries ranging from 70 to 106% were obtained. Repeatability and intermediate precision, expressed as relative standard deviations, were lower than 21% for all mycotoxins and levels assayed. The limits of quantification were lower than 0.5 microg/L. The developed method has been applied for the analysis of several types of beers with different alcoholic content (nonalcoholic, normal, and special), and T2, HT-2 toxins, aflatoxin B1, and fumonisin B2 were detected. This methodology combines the simplicity of SPE using conventional cartridges and UHPLC-MS/MS, producing a rapid, sensitive, and reliable procedure.

Multi-residue determination of veterinary drugs in milk by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple, selective and fast multi-residue method was developed to determine 18 veterinary drugs in milk by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry. The selected antibiotics include quinolones, sulphonamides, macrolides, anthelmintics and one tetracycline. An extraction procedure based on QuEChERS methodology (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe), consisting of a liquid extraction of the milk samples with acetonitrile without sample clean up was performed. The extract was centrifuged and the supernatant was filtered prior to chromatographic analysis. Several chromatographic conditions were optimized in order to obtain a fast separation (less than 10 min). The antibiotics were detected by electrospray ionization in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and mass spectrometric conditions were optimized in order to increase selectivity and sensitivity. The developed method was validated in terms of linearity, trueness, precision, limits of detection (LODs) and quantification. Mean recoveries ranged from 70% to 110% and interday precision was lower than 21%. LODs ranged from 1 to 4 microg/kg. Finally, the method was applied to real samples and only traces of tylosin and fenbendezol were detected in two samples.