Analysis of Veterinary Drugs in Meat

Importance of the Topic

Ensuring the safety of meat products requires reliable detection of veterinary drug residues. Simultaneous multi-residue analysis helps maintain food quality, regulatory compliance and consumer confidence.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study presents a rapid reversed-phase LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of a range of veterinary drugs in meat samples. Using a high-resolution C18 column and a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, the approach aims to deliver high sensitivity, reproducibility and throughput.

Methodology

A gradient elution was developed on a Shim-pack Scepter C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.9 μm) at 40 °C. Mobile phase A was 0.1% formic acid in water and mobile phase B was 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. The gradient program enabled baseline separation of target analytes within a short run time. Sample preparation involved extraction from ground meat followed by clean-up to remove matrix interferences.

Instrumentation Used

• High-performance liquid chromatograph: Nexera X3
• Column: Shim-pack Scepter C18-120, 100 mm x 2.1 mm I.D., 1.9 μm
• Mass spectrometer: LCMS-8060 with electrospray ionization in positive and negative modes
• Nebulizing gas flow: 3 L/min; drying and heating gas flows: 10 L/min each
• Interface and DL temperatures: 250 °C; heat block temperature: 400 °C

Key Results and Discussion

The optimized method achieved clear chromatographic resolution of multiple veterinary drugs, with low limits of detection and quantification suitable for regulatory thresholds. Dual-mode ESI allowed profiling of both acidic and basic compounds in a single run. Method validation showed satisfactory accuracy and precision across representative meat matrices.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput screening of diverse drug classes in meat products
• Reduced analysis time and solvent consumption compared to conventional methods
• Suitability for routine quality control in food safety laboratories
• Adaptable to other complex matrices such as dairy or environmental samples

Future Trends and Opportunities

Further development may include expansion of the compound library, integration with automated sample preparation platforms and application of high-resolution mass spectrometry for non-targeted screening. Efforts toward greener solvents and miniaturized systems will enhance sustainability.

Conclusion

The described LC-MS/MS protocol provides a robust and efficient solution for simultaneous detection of veterinary drug residues in meat. Its combination of speed, sensitivity and versatility makes it a valuable tool for food safety monitoring.

References

• Application News 01-005400 (JP), Shimadzu Corporation, 2024
• Shim-pack, Shim-pack Scepter and Nexera are trademarks of Shimadzu Corporation