Development and validation of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of beta-agonists in animal feed and drinking water.

A reproducible, sensitive and selective multiresidue analytical method for seven beta-agonists: clenbuterol (CBT), clenpenterol (CPT), ractopamine (RTP), brombuterol (BBT), mabuterol (MBT), mapenterol (MPT), and hydroxymethylclenbuterol (HMCBT) was developed and validated by using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in feed and drinking water samples. The validation was achieved according to the criteria laid down in the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, however it was necessary to use minimum required performance limits (MRPLs) proposed by the Community Reference Laboratories (CRLs) due to the lack of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for beta-agonists. By setting up these…