Surveillance study of a number of synthetic and natural growth promoters in bovine muscle samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A simple, new method permitting the simultaneous determination and confirmation of trace residues of 24 different growth promoters and metabolites using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed and validated. The compounds were extracted from bovine tissue using acetonitrile; sodium sulphate was also added at this stage to aid with purification. The resulting mixture was then evaporated to approximately 1 ml and subsequently centrifuged at high speed and an aliquot injected onto the LC-MS/MS system. The calculated CCα values ranged between 0.11 and 0.46 µg kg⁻¹; calculated CCβ were in the range 0.19–0.79 µg kg⁻¹. Accuracy, measurement of uncertainty, repeatability and linearity were also determined for each analyte. The analytical method was applied to a number of bovine tissue samples imported into Ireland from third countries. Levels of progesterone were found in a number of samples at concentrations ranging between 0.28 and 30.30 µg kg⁻¹. Levels of alpha- and beta-testosterone were also found in a number of samples at concentrations ranging between 0.22 and 8.63 µg kg⁻¹ and between 0.16 and 2.08 µg kg⁻¹ respectively.

Keywords:

• liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
• extraction
• survey
• veterinary drug residues
• anabolic steroids
• meat

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by The State Laboratory, Co. Kildare, Ireland. The authors would like to thank the staff at The State Laboratory, Co. Kildare, for practical assistance.