Analysis of nitrofuran drug residues in animal tissues using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

The method has addressed the traditionally narrow scope of nitrofuran analysis by including new marker chemistries. Full chromatographic separation was achieved for the metabolites of all eight nitrofurans, using phenyl-hexyl column chemistry and a systematic optimisation of the mobile phase additives and gradient profile.

The conventional, lengthy sample preparation was substantially shortened by replacing the overnight waterbath derivatisation with a rapid 2 h microwave-assisted reaction, followed by a modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction, which is a simplified approach that uses less solvent per sample. The new marker residues of two nitrofuran drugs were confirmed in vivo for the first time in literature.