Multi-class analysis of veterinary drugs in eggs using dispersive-solid phase extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A multi-residue method has been developed for the identification and quantification of 78 compounds from seven different classes of veterinary drugs in eggs. This method was based on dispersive solid phase extraction where mixed-mode cation exchange sorbent was used to combine the isolation of compounds and sample purification. The analysis was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and the chromatographic run time of one injection was 9.5 min. The mean recovery ranged from 70.5% to 119.2% and inter-day relative standard deviation was less than 17.0%. The limit of quantification ranged between 0.1 and 1 μg/kg, which was sufficient to support surveillance monitoring. Lastly, the method was successfully used to detect residues of veterinary drug in real samples. The dietary exposure risk was subsequently assessed using the results of the survey, indicating that the evaluated daily intake and percentage of acceptable daily intake were at toxicologically acceptable levels.

Keywords: Egg; Mass spectrometry; Multi-class analysis; Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography; Veterinary drug.