An improvement of the method commonly used for the determination of ivermectin is proposed. An automatic system is used for the solid-phase extraction column purification stage in order to provide more efficient and fast sample preparation, prior to separation and quantification by HPLC. Some tests were performed to obtain recovery and repeatability data. The mean recovery for spiked samples (five replicates twice at three concentration levels) was more than 90% in the concentration range 7.5-30 ng g-1. The tests for accuracy (five replicates at three concentration levels) gave a standard error of -2.0% at the highest and -19.2% at the lowest concentration. Concerning repeatability data (five replicates twice at three concentration levels), in the concentration range 7.5-30 ng g-1 the RSD varied from 9.29 to 2.15%. The described method was used in a survey on the presence of ivermectin in food-producing animals in two regions of southern Italy; no positives out of 250 liver samples were found.