Multi-Class UHPLC-MS/MS Method for Plant Toxins and Cyanotoxins in Food Supplements and Application for Belgian Market Samples.

The presence of plant toxins and/or cyanotoxins in food supplements implies consumer health risks. Therefore, a targeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method to detect/quantify 25 toxins simultaneously in food supplement formulations was developed and validated. Full validation for tablets/powders and secondary validation for a liquid and soft gel capsule indicated that most compounds were efficiently extracted (≥ 75%), while others were only partly extracted (18 - 61%). Trueness was fulfilled (70 - 120%), with some exceptions (mostly at the lowest validation level). Intralaboratory repeatability, intra- and interlaboratory reproducibility values of ≤ 20%, ≤ 25%, and ≤ 25% were obtained for most, respectively. Matrix effects were found to be significant for most compounds. Good sensitivity (µg/kg level) was observed for galegin(e), lycopsamine, lycorine, rubiadin, skimmiamine, and vascin(e), in contrast to helveticoside, lucidin, lucidin-3-primveroside, plumbagin(e), and thujone, which were detected at the mg/kg level. The other compounds were characterized by a sensitivity between 10 to 1000 µg/kg. The validated methodology was applied for 52 food supplements (tablets, capsules, liquids/syrup, etc.) purchased from the Belgian market. In more than 25% of the samples, one or more toxins were detected (concentrations determined using standard addition). Lycopsamine, microcystin LR, solamargine, thujone, and vasicin(e) were the most frequently detected toxins. A clear link between the toxins detected and the plant species on the food supplement ingredient list could not always be established. This generic "dilute-and-shoot" procedure can be used for further research on toxins in food supplements and by extension other plant/algae-based food/feed commodities (herbs, edible flowers, etc.).

The role of roughage provision on the absorption and disposition of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives in calves: from field observations to toxicokinetics.

A clinical case in Belgium demonstrated that feeding a feed concentrate containing considerable levels of deoxynivalenol (DON, 1.13 mg/kg feed) induced severe liver failure in 2- to 3-month-old beef calves. Symptoms disappeared by replacing the highly contaminated corn and by stimulating ruminal development via roughage administration. A multi-mycotoxin contamination was demonstrated in feed samples collected at 15 different veal farms in Belgium. DON was most prevalent, contaminating 80% of the roughage samples (mixed straw and maize silage; average concentration in positives: 637 ± 621 µg/kg, max. 1818 µg/kg), and all feed concentrate samples (411 ± 156 µg/kg, max. 693 µg/kg). In order to evaluate the impact of roughage provision and its associated ruminal development on the gastro-intestinal absorption and biodegradation of DON and its acetylated derivatives (3- and 15-ADON) in calves, a toxicokinetic study was performed with two ruminating and two non-ruminating male calves. Animals received in succession a bolus of DON (120 µg/kg bodyweight (BW)), 15-ADON (50 µg/kg BW), and 3-ADON (25 µg/kg) by intravenous (IV) injection or per os (PO) in a cross-over design. The absolute oral bioavailability of DON was much higher in non-ruminating calves (50.7 ± 33.0%) compared to ruminating calves (4.1 ± 4.5%). Immediately following exposure, 3- and 15-ADON were hydrolysed to DON in ruminating calves. DON and its acetylated metabolites were mainly metabolized to DON-3-glucuronide, however, also small amounts of DON-15-glucuronide were detected in urine. DON degradation to deepoxy-DON (DOM-1) was only observed to a relevant extent in ruminating calves. Consequently, toxicity of DON in calves is closely related to roughage provision and the associated stage of ruminal development.

Presence and fate of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes and zoonotic bacteria during biological swine manure treatment.

The presence and dissemination of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes and zoonotic bacteria in the environment is of growing concern worldwide. Manure management practices, such as biological removal of nitrogen from swine manure, may help to decrease levels of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes and zoonotic bacteria present in manure before fertilization, thereby reducing environmental contamination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the presence and fate of seven antibiotic residues (colistin, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, ceftiofur and tylosin A), nine antibiotic resistance genes (tet(B), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), tet(W), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2) and two zoonotic bacteria (Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter coli) during biological nitrogen removal from swine manure over time. Samples from the raw manure, the solid fraction, the liquid fraction and the storage lagoon were analyzed on two farms at six time points with an interval of two weeks. Only the antibiotics which were used during the three months preceding the first sampling could be detected before and after biological nitrogen removal from swine manure. Of all the antibiotics studied, doxycycline was recovered in all of the samples and sulfadiazine was recovered in most samples on both farms. For both antibiotics, there appears to be a reduction of the amount of residues present in the storage lagoon compared to the liquid fraction, however, this reduction was not statistically significant. A significant reduction of the relative abundances of most of the antibiotic resistance genes studied was observed when comparing the liquid fraction and the storage lagoon. For tet(L), no differences were observed between the fractions sampled and for sul2 and erm(F), a significant increase in relative abundances was observed on the second farm sampled. For the zoonotic bacteria, a reduction of at least 1 log was observed after biological nitrogen removal from swine manure. The results indicate that the concentration of certain antibiotic residues and several antibiotic resistance genes and the amount of zoonotic bacteria present in the manure may be reduced in the end product of the biological nitrogen removal from swine manure.

Development of an LC-MS/MS method for the detection of traces of peanut allergens in chili pepper.

The recent detection of nuts (including peanut) in spices across the globe has led to enormous recalls of several spices and food products in the last two years. The lack of validated detection methods specific for spices makes it difficult to assess allergen presence at trace levels. Because of the urgent need for confirmation of possible peanut presence in chili peppers, an LC-MS/MS method was optimized and developed for this particular food matrix. Although several studies optimized LC-MS detection strategies specific for peanuts, the presence of complex components in the spices (e.g., phenolic components) makes method optimization and validation necessarily. Focus was laid on validation of the method with real incurred chili peppers (whereby a known amount of peanut is added) at low concentrations, to deal with possible matrix interferences. LC-MS/MS proves to be a good alternative to the currently most applied methods (ELISA and RT-PCR) and can be used as a complementary method of analysis when results are unclear. Peanut marker peptides were selected based on their abundancy in digested incurred chili peppers. The limit of detection was determined to be 24 ppm (mg peanut/kg), a level whereby the risk for potential allergic reactions is zero, considering the typical portion size of spices. The chili pepper powder under investigation proved to contain low levels of peanuts after LC-MS/MS, ELISA, and RT-PCR testing. Graphical abstract Standard curve of the detected peanuts in chili pepper samples using the novel LC-MS/MS method.

Residues of chlortetracycline, doxycycline and sulfadiazine-trimethoprim in intestinal content and feces of pigs due to cross-contamination of feed.

BACKGROUND: Cross-contamination of feed with low concentrations of antimicrobials can occur at production, transport and/or farm level. Concerns are rising about possible effects of this contaminated feed on resistance selection in the intestinal microbiota. Therefore, an experiment with pigs was set up, in which intestinal and fecal concentrations of chlortetracycline (CTC), doxycycline (DOX) and sulfadiazine-trimethoprim (SDZ-TRIM) were determined after administration of feed containing a 3 % carry-over level of these antimicrobials. RESULTS: The poor oral bioavailability of tetracyclines resulted in rather high concentrations in cecal and colonic content and feces at steady-state conditions. A mean concentration of 10 mg/kg CTC and 4 mg/kg DOX in the feces was reached, which is higher than concentrations that were shown to cause resistance selection. On the other hand, lower mean levels of SDZ (0.7 mg/kg) and TRIM (< limit of detection of 0.016 mg/kg) were found in the feces, corresponding with the high oral bioavailability of SDZ and TRIM in pigs. CONCLUSIONS: The relation between the oral bioavailability and intestinal concentrations of the tested antimicrobials, may be of help in assessing the risks of cross-contaminated feed. However, future research is needed to confirm our results and to evaluate the effects of these detected concentrations on resistance selection in the intestinal microbiota of pigs.

A multiresidue liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method for the detection and quantitation of 15 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in bovine meat and milk.

This study concerns a validated liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) multiresidue method for the simultaneous detection, identification, and quantitation of 15 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in bovine meat and milk. The NSAIDs considered are carprofen, diclofenac, flufenamic acid, flunixin (5-hydroxyflunixin as marker metabolite in milk), ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, 4-methylaminoantipyrine (marker metabolite of metamizole in meat and milk), naproxen, niflumic acid, phenylbutazone (and metabolite oxyphenbutazone), ramifenazone, salicylic acid, and tolfenamic acid. These compounds were chosen as representatives of different chemical subclasses of NSAIDs. Flunixin-d3, diclofenac-d4, 4-aminoantipyrine-d3, and phenylbutazone-d10 were used as internal standards. Performance characteristics were validated according to the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC (Off J Eur Communities, L221: 8-36). Recovery percentages varied between 81 and 114% for bovine meat and between 79 and 118% for milk. Repeatability percentages were within the range of 1-12% for meat and between 1 and 17% for milk, whereas the intralaboratory reproducibility varied between 3 and 19% for meat and between 3 and 23% for milk. The decision limit and the detection capability for bovine meat were within the range of 0.5-579 µg kg(-1)and 0.6-642 µg kg(-1), respectively. Those for milk were within the range of 0.12-55 µg kg(-1) and 0.14-61 µg kg(-1), respectively. The methods developed were successfully applied for proficiency test samples and routine samples analyzed in the laboratory. The methodology concerns fast, user-friendly, and sensitive methods, which can be easily extended for other compounds and matrices. In general, such multiresidue methods contribute to the reduction of human exposure to these veterinary drug residues by consumption of contaminated bovine-derived products such as meat and milk.

Nicotine in the button mushroom Agaricus bisporus, endogenous biosynthesis?

In early 2009 nicotine was unexpectedly detected in dried mushroom samples. As its origin has not yet been elucidated, this study addressed possible endogenous synthesis of nicotine. Therefore, Agaricus bisporus fruiting bodies were grown in a representative and controlled (nicotine-free) setup. Fruiting bodies (fresh versus stored, intact versus processed (sliced/cooked)) from different harvest days and flushes were analysed with a validated, sensitive dilute-and-shoot UHPLC-MS/MS methodology for nicotine and its precursors putrescine and nicotinic acid. Neither storage nor processing initiated any endogenous nicotine biosynthesis (detection limit 1.6 ng g-1 fresh weight). In contrast, putrescine and nicotinic acid were detected in all samples, with increasing amounts in the different treatments. In silico analysis of the fully sequenced genome of A. bisporus confirmed its inability to produce nicotine. The data obtained do not provide evidence for natural, endogenous presence of nicotine in mushrooms, indicating an exogenous contamination source (e.g. contamination during hand-picking, sample preparation/analysis).

The impact of antibiotic residues on resistance patterns in leek at harvest.

When crops are cultivated on fields fertilized with animal manure, the risk exists that plants may take up antibiotic residues and may be exposed to antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria. During cultivation in a greenhouse pot experiment, leek (Allium porrum) was fertilized with either pig slurry or mineral fertilizer and exposed to either no antibiotics, doxycycline (10,000 µg/kg manure), sulfadiazine (1000 µg/kg manure), or lincomycin (1000 µg/kg manure). At harvest, 4.5 months later, lincomycin, sulfadiazine or doxycycline were not detected in any of the leek samples nor in their corresponding soil samples. Further, antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 181 Bacillus cereus group isolates and 52 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from the grown leek. For the B. cereus group isolates, only a small shift in MIC50 for lincomycin was observed among isolates from the lincomycin and control treatment. For P. aeruginosa, only in the setup with doxycycline treatment a higher MIC50 for doxycycline was observed compared to the control, specifically the isolates selected from growth media supplemented with 8 mg/L doxycycline. Nine antibiotic resistance genes (tet(B), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), tet(W), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2) were investigated at harvest in the leek and soil samples. In the leek samples, none of the antibiotic resistance genes were detected. In the soil samples fertilized with pig slurry, the genes erm(B), erm(F), tet(M), sul2, tet(W) and tet(O) were detected in significantly higher copy numbers in the lincomycin treatment as compared to the other antibiotic treatments. This could be due to a shift in soil microbiota induced by the addition of lincomycin. The results of this study indicate that consumption of leek carries a low risk of exposure to antibiotic residues or antibiotic resistance to doxycycline, sulfadiazine or lincomycin.

Solvent Front Position Extraction and some conventional sample preparation techniques for the determination of coccidiostats in poultry feed by LC-MS/MS.

Solvent Front Position Extraction is a novel technique developed for effective sample preparation of biological samples containing coccidiostats prior to LC-MS/MS. In this study the technique was used for isolation and determination of seven coccidiostats, from both main groups being: ionophores and chemical coccidiostats. Its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing with other sample preparation procedures, used in European routine laboratories. Results obtained by Solvent Front Position Extraction were very satisfactory (linearity R2 ≥ 0.971, recovery 90.1-111.1%, RSDr: 8.7-16.6%, RSDR: 9.0-17.7%) and fulfilled requirements described in Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/808 of 22 March 2021, which showed great potential of the technique in sample preparation of coccidiostats in poultry feed.

Impact of fertilization with pig or calf slurry on antibiotic residues and resistance genes in the soil.

Antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes can enter the environment via fertilization with calf and pig manure. In a longitudinal study, nine antibiotic resistance genes (tet(B), tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), tet(W), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2) and 56 antibiotic residues were investigated in 288 soil samples and 8 corresponding slurry samples from 6 pig farms and 2 veal farms using qPCR and LC-MS/MS, respectively. A significant increase in gene copy number of tet(M), erm(B), erm(F) and sul2 was observed in all the soil layers between sampling times prior to (T1) and 2-3 weeks after fertilization (T3). Tet(B), tet(Q) and tet(L) were least abundant in the soil among the genes tested. From 7 classes of antibiotics, 20 residues were detected in soil and slurry using an optimized and validated extraction method. Flumequine was detected in all soil samples in concentrations below 100 µg/kg despite being detected in only half of the corresponding slurry samples. Doxycycline, oxytetracycline, lincomycin and sulfadiazine were also frequently detected in concentrations ranging from 0.1 µg/kg to 500 µg/kg and from 2 µg/kg and 9480 µg/kg in soil and slurry, respectively. Furthermore a positive association between the presence of antibiotic residues (total antibiotic load) and antibiotic resistance genes in soil was found. One possible explanation for this is a simultaneous introduction of antibiotic residues and resistance genes upon application of animal slurry.

Development of a generic ultra-high-pressure gradient liquid-chromatography method development protocol: The analysis of residual multi-class antibiotics in food products as a case study.

The present study discusses UHPLC method development allowing to establish ultra-high-resolution separations in gradient mode while operating at the kinetic performance limits, targeting the analysis of complex residual multi-class antibiotic samples in food products. The peak capacity and gradient occupation have been systematically assessed at different flow rates and gradient duration. The small particle size (1.5 µm core-shell particles) used in this study limits the mass-transfer contribution to band broadening when operating at high flow rate. As a result, for high-throughput analysis, high-pressure (1500 bar) operation leads to high resolving power where the gradient steepness dominates the peak capacity generation vs mass-transfer resistance. To reach the highest possible resolving power within a practically acceptable analysis time, one should use coupled-column systems at 1500 bar and adjust the gradient steepness correspondingly. Coupling four columns and applying a shallow gradient at 1500 bar led to a sample peak capacity of 379 in 140 min, allowing to resolve 71% of the analytes in a mixture composed of 61 milk antibiotics.

Validation of the Charm MRL-3 for fast screening of beta-lactam antibiotics in raw milk.

The biochemicals utilized in the Charm MRL beta-Lactam test (8 min test) were applied to faster flowing lateral components to create a new 3 min, one-step beta-lactam test called Charm MRL-3 (Charm Sciences Inc., Lawrence, MA). This new test was validated at T&V-ILVO according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The following analytical parameters were checked: test specificity, detection capability, and test robustness (impact of deviation of the test protocol, and impact of the milk composition, batch differences of reagents). Further, the suitability of the Charm MRL-3 to screen heat-treated milk or milk from animal species other than the cow was also tested. Finally, the test was integrated in the monitoring of dairy samples to check the occurrence of false-negative or false-positive results, and the test was also included in a national ring trial and an international proficiency study. The results proved that the Charm MRL-3 is a fast, simple, and reliable cows' milk test that can be used at the farm level in order to prevent tanker milk contamination, or at the entrance of the dairy plant to screen tanker milk for the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Presence of Antibiotic Residues and Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Cattle Manure Intended for Fertilization of Agricultural Fields: A One Health Perspective.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues can enter the environment when using animal manure as fertilizer. Twenty-five mixed beef cattle farmyard manure samples and 9 mixed fattening calf slurry samples from different farms across Belgium were investigated for the presence of 69 antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Doxycycline, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, flumequine and lincomycin were detected in all fattening calf slurry samples with mean concentrations of 2776, 4078, 48, 31, 536 and 36 µg/kg manure, respectively. Sulfadiazine was detected at a mean concentration of 10,895 µg/kg. Further, antibiotic residues were found in only 4 of the 25 beef cattle farmyard manure samples. Oxytetracycline was detected twice below 500 µg/kg. Paromomycin, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin were detected in a concentration below 100 µg/kg. Of E. coli isolates, 88% and 23% from fattening calf slurry and beef cattle farmyard manure, respectively, were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics tested. Multi-drug resistance was observed at a maximum of 10 and 7 antibiotics, respectively. The occurrence of antibiotic resistant E. coli and antibiotic residues is shown to be higher in fattening calf slurry than in beef cattle farmyard manure used for agricultural field fertilization.

Stability, Homogeneity and Carry-Over of Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, Florfenicol and Flubendazole in Medicated Feed and Drinking Water on 24 Pig Farms.

The vast majority of medicines in pig rearing are administered via oral group medication through medicated feed and drinking water. However, relevant on-farm factors affecting the concentration of these drugs in feed and drinking water, such as the homogeneity, stability, and cross-contamination, are largely unknown. To characterize these factors, samples of medicated feed and drinking water were taken on 24 Belgian pig farms during treatment and 2 days thereafter, as well as at different on-farm sampling sites from production to feeding troughs or drinking nipples. The samples contained amoxicillin, doxycycline, florfenicol, or flubendazole. Additionally, a questionnaire was completed. In contrast to the results of medicated feed, results of medicated water showed a large between-farm variation in antimicrobial drug concentration. The therapeutic concentration range was only met in 2 out of 11 farms using medicated feed, and in 3 out of 13 farms using medicated water. Medicated feed concentrations were often below the therapeutic concentration range mentioned in the Summary of Product Characteristics, while drinking water concentrations were just as often above as they were below the advised target concentration range. Drug residues measured 2 days after the end of therapy with both feed and water medication rarely exceeded 1% of the lowest therapeutic concentration. This study demonstrates that recommendations on good clinical practices for oral group medication in the pig industry are highly needed.

Longitudinal screening of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes and zoonotic bacteria in soils fertilized with pig manure.

Fertilization with animal manure is one of the main routes responsible for the introduction of antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistance genes, and zoonotic bacteria into the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the use of pig (swine) manure as a fertilizer on the presence and fate of six antibiotic residues, nine antibiotic resistance genes, and bacteria (zoonotic bacteria Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. and E. coli as indicator for Gram-negative bacterial species of the microbiota of livestock) on five fields. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to assess a multitude of antibiotic residues and resistance to several classes of antibiotics in pig manure and in fertilized soil over time in a region with an intensive pig industry (Flanders, Belgium). The fields were sampled at five consecutive time points, starting before fertilization up to harvest. Low concentrations of antibiotic residues could be observed in the soils until harvest. The antibiotic resistance genes studied were already present at background levels in the soil environment prior to fertilization, but after fertilization with pig manure, an increase in relative abundance was observed for most of them, followed by a decline back to background levels by harvest-time on all of the fields studied. No apparent differences regarding the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in soils were observed between those fertilized with manure that either contained antibiotic residues or not. With regard to dissemination of resistance, the results presented in this study confirm that fertilization with animal manure directly adds resistance genes to the soil. In addition, it shows that this direct mechanism may be more important than possible selective pressure in soil-dwelling bacteria exerted by antibiotic residues present in the manure. These results also indicate that zoonotic bacteria detected in the manure could be detected in the soil environment directly after fertilization, but not after 1 month. In conclusion, although some antibiotic residues may be present in both manure and soil at concentrations to exert selective pressure, it seems that antibiotic resistance is mostly introduced directly to soil through fertilization with animal manure.

Oral group medication in pig production: characterising medicated feed and drinking water systems.

Despite common use of oral group medication in pig rearing, the homogeneity, stability and carry-over of frequently used medicinal products in feed and drinking water are largely unknown. Therefore, a field study was performed on 52 Belgian pig farms, characterising preparation and administration of medicinal products via these systems, and farmers' user experiences with medicated feed and medicated drinking water. The study showed that medicated drinking water is more commonly used than medicated feed, since 90.4 per cent of the farms sometimes use medicated drinking water and 69.2 per cent of the farms sometimes use medicated feed. The drinking water quality is evaluated at least once a year on only 30.7 per cent of the farms. Separate pipelines for medicated and non-medicated circuits were not present in any of the farms using medicated feed and in 27.7 per cent of the farms using medicated drinking water. With drinking water medication, 63.5 per cent of the farmers reported encountering practical problems, often related to solubility issues and precipitation of the active compounds. In contrast, medicated feed is bought ready-to-use from the feed manufacturer in 68.2 per cent of the cases, thus reducing the number of practical problems experienced by the farmer. This study shows room for improvement of oral group treatment, developing appropriate pharmaceutical formulations for drinking water medication, quality control of drinking water, using separate pipeline circuits, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

Effect of residual doxycycline concentrations on resistance selection and transfer in porcine commensal Escherichia coli.

Pig feed may contain various levels of antimicrobial residues due to cross-contamination. A previous study showed that a 3% carry-over level of doxycycline (DOX) in the feed results in porcine faecal concentrations of approximately 4 mg/L. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of residual DOX concentrations (1 and 4 mg/L) in vitro on selection of DOX-resistant porcine commensal Escherichia coli and transfer of their resistance plasmids. Three different DOX-resistant porcine commensal E. coli strains and their plasmids were characterised. These strains were each brought in competition with a susceptible strain in a medium containing 0, 1 and 4 mg/L DOX. Resistant bacteria, susceptible bacteria and transconjugants were enumerated after 24 h and 48 h. The tet(A)-carrying plasmids showed genetic backbones that are also present among human E. coli isolates. Ratios of resistant to susceptible bacteria were significantly higher at 1 and 4 mg/L DOX compared with the blank control, but there was no significant difference between 1 and 4 mg/L. Plasmid transfer frequencies were affected by 1 or 4 mg/L DOX in the medium for only one of the resistance plasmids. In conclusion, DOX concentrations of 1 and 4 mg/L can select for resistant E. coli in vitro. Further research is needed to determine the effect of these concentrations in the complex environment of the porcine intestinal microbiota.

Validation of the tetrasensor honey test kit for the screening of tetracyclines in honey.

Regarding anti-infectious agents, no maximum residue limits are fixed for honey in the European legislation. Discussions are being conducted in order to set working limits at the European level; for example, for tetracyclines, 20 microg/kg was proposed. The Tetrasensor Honey test kit is a receptor-based assay using dipsticks for a rapid screening (30 min) of honey on the presence of tetracyclines. The test was validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The test detects tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline in honey in a specific and sensitive way. Depending on the type of tetracycline, detection capabilities (CCbeta) between 6 and 12 microg/kg were obtained (4-7 microg/kg for dried dipsticks). The test is rugged and participation with the test in an international ring trial gave compliant results. It can be concluded that the Tetrasensor Honey test kit is a simple and reliable test that can even be used at the production site.

Evaluation and validation of the use of a molecularly imprinted polymer coupled to LC-MS for benzylpenicillin determination in meat samples.

This article describes a full analytical method for the clean-up and detection of benzylpenicillin in chicken and beef meat samples using a previously developed molecularly imprinted polymer in a solid-phase extraction cleanup step followed by analysis using LC-MS/MS. The method was validated based on the criteria and the requirements of the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. This validation revealed method performance characteristics that meet all the criteria in the Decision with limits of detection for chicken and beef meat samples of 6.2 and 14.4µg/kg, respectively, 8 and 3.5 times lower than the MRL. This method holds strong potential when a specific cleanup of benzylpenicillin is required, because with slight modifications it is also applicable in a milk matrix [1].