Detecting Veterinary Drug Residues in Animal-Derived Foods Using UHPLC–MS/MS

A team of researchers from Technology Center, Chengdu Customs and Jiangnan University in China, have developed a method for detecting veterinary drug residues in animal-derived food products (1). The technique, which combines QuEChERS with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) identified 19 veterinary drugs across 10 different matrices, including beef, pork, sheep, horse, chicken, fish, and dairy products. The study has been published in the Journal of Chromatography A.

A scientist in a lab coat and blue gloves holds a clear container with pieces of raw meat, showcasing food safety and laboratory research concepts. © ChaoticMind - stock.adobe.com

Residues of veterinary drugs, such as antibiotics, growth hormones, and antiparasitic agents, can pose serious health risks to consumers. Long-term exposure to certain drug residues may lead to toxicity or allergic reactions. It can also contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance in humans, making infections harder to treat. Veterinary drugs can also find their way into water sources via incorrect disposal, direct waste, or sewage discharge (2), affecting aquatic life and ecosystems. Having strict regulations in place can build confidence and trust in the food supply chain, both nationwide and worldwide.

Novel veterinary drugs are constantly being developed, and this has led to an expansion in the range of pharmaceuticals present in food for consumption (1). As a result, the maximum residue limits (MRL) for these drugs are often updated. The team therefore wanted to develop a method that could satisfy the latest MRLs issued by Korea, Canada, the European Union, and the US.

After pretreatment using QuEChERS, the team utilized UHPLC–MS/MS under gradient elution conditions with methanol and 0.2% formic acid water as the mobile phase. Detection of the targeted veterinary drug residues was achieved through positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes, which ensured high specificity and sensitivity. Quantification was performed using a matrix-matched external standard method, minimizing potential interferences from different food matrices and enhancing accuracy.

The team reported good linearity (R² > 0.991) across a range of 0.5–50.0 ng/mL, confirming the method’s ability to produce consistent and precise results. Limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.01 to 1.29 μg/kg, while limits of quantification (LOQ) spanned from 0.02 to 4.31 μg/kg, ensuring that trace amounts of veterinary drug residues could be detected. Recovery rates for the method ranged from 60.6% to 117.7%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of ≤20.6%.

The ability to rapidly and accurately screen for veterinary drug residues is crucial for regulatory agencies and food producers alike. Countries with strict food safety regulations require precise analytical methods to ensure compliance and prevent the import or export of contaminated food products. This method offers a reliable approach for detecting drugs such as metomidate, acetanilide, and dl-methylephedrine, which are widely used in veterinary medicine but require strict regulation in food. Notably, it was the first to be developed for determining ciclesonide residues in animal-derived food products.

References

(1) Sun, Q.; Liu, J, Gou, Y.; et al. Determination of Veterinary Drugs in Foods of Animal Origin by QuEChERS Coupled with Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). J. Chromatogr. A 2025, 1744, 465726. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2025.465726

(2) Ekpeghere, K. I.; Lee, J-. W.; Kim, H-. Y.; Shin, S-. K.; Oh, J-. E. Determination and Characterization of Pharmaceuticals in Sludge from Municipal and Livestock Wastewater Treatment Plants. Chemosphere 2017, 168, 1211–1221. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.077