Validation of radioimmunoassay screening methods for β-agonists in bovine liver according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC

Abstract

Validation studies were carried out on a multi-residue screening method for anilinic type β-agonists (clenbuterol, mabuterol, brombuterol, cimaterol, cimbuterol, mapenterol, clenpenterol) and a method for the phenolic type β-agonist, salbutamol, in bovine liver. The validation was performed according to the European Union Commission Decision 2002/657/EC (European Commission 2002), which establishes criteria and procedures for the determination of parameters such as the detection capability (CCβ), specificity, stability of standard solutions and stability of the analyte in matrix. CCβ values for the eight target compounds were between 0.25 and 0.5 µg kg⁻¹. The stability of standard solutions and analytes in matrix and the specificity of the antibody were characterized. The methods are applicable for qualitative screening of β-agonists for regulatory programmes according to European Union performance requirements, or as a semi-quantitative research tool for known target compounds.

Keywords:

• β-agonists
• radioimmunoassay
• residues
• validation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for financial support of the project (Research Contract No. 11880/RBF).