RESUMO
An accurate, reliable and fast multi-residue, multi-class method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination and quantification of 24 pharmacologically active substances of three different classes (Quinolones including fluoroquinolones, sulphonamides and tetracyclines) in aquaculture shrimps. Sample preparation involves extraction with acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid and followed by clean up with n-hexane and 0.1% methanol in water by UPLC-MS/MS within 8â¯min. The method was validated according to European Commission Decision 2002/657. Acceptable values were obtained for linearity (5-200⯵gâ¯kg-1), specificity, Limit of Quantification (5-10⯵gâ¯kg-1), recovery (between 83 and 100%), repeatability (RSDâ¯<â¯9%), within lab reproducibility (RSDâ¯<â¯15%), reproducibility (RSDâ¯≤â¯22%), decision limit (105-116⯵gâ¯kg-1) and detection capability (110-132⯵gâ¯kg-1). The validated method was applied to aquaculture shrimp samples from India.