A rapid and reliable assay to determine flumequine, marbofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin in commonly consumed meat by micellar liquid chromatography

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Micellar liquid chromatography – fluorescence detection was used to determine the antibiotics flumequine, marbofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin in porcine, bovine, poultry, ovine, caprine, rabbit, and equine meat, to verify compliance with EU Regulation 37/2010 with regard to the occurrence of veterinary drugs in food. RESULTS: The analytes were isolated from the matrix by ultrasonication-assisted leaching in a micellar solution, and the supernatant was filtered and directly injected. The fluoroquinolones were resolved in < 19 min using a C18 column, with an isocratic mobile phase of 0.05 mol L − 1 sodium dodecyl sulfate - 8% 1-butanol – 0.5% triethylamine buffered at pH 3. The limits of quantification (0.01–0.05 mg kg − 1 ) were below the maximum residue limits (0.15–0.4 mg kg − 1 ). The method was validated by EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC guidelines. CONCLUSION: The method shows practical advantages such as simplicity, low cost, eco-friendliness, safety, and applicability for routine analysis, and is useful for surveillance programs.