A robust and dependable headspace HS-GC-MS method has been developed for the determination of carbon monoxide (CO) treated tuna fish. The performance of the method has been evaluated by analyzing spiked and blank samples. The proposed method uses a programmed temperature vaporizing (PTV) injector to implement the HS injection and overcome the negative effects on the column of water contained in the sample. The level of CO could be easily detected in the treated samples, its amount differing markedly from that detected in the untreated samples. Proper oven temperature programming prevented any deterioration of chromatographic performance caused by the accumulation of water, carbon dioxide and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons in the column during serial analyses. The introduction of PTV injection and the restoring of GC column, by oven temperature programming, were crucial for obtaining the required robustness. This procedure assures the run-to-run repeatability necessary for high throughput applications. The method affords linear calibration curves ranging from 50 to 2500 ng/g of CO content in tuna sample.
2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.