We have developed a rapid analysis method for determination of histamine using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescamine derivatization. Histamine was extracted from foods with trichloroacetic acid after homogenization. The supernatant obtained by centrifugation was filtered and derivatized without solid-phase extraction. The mobile phase was 10 mM phosphate-acetonitrile (75 : 25) without ion-pairing. Recovery tests of histamine from fishes, seasoning and fish products gave acceptable recovery (95.8-117.7%). This method should be useful for rapid evaluation of food poisoning outbreaks.
Keywords: fish; fish product; fluorescamine; food poisoning; histamine; ultra-performance liquid chromatography.