Determination of chloramphenicol residues in fish using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Objective:A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric(HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of chloramphenicol residues in fish.Methods: D5-chloramphenicol was used as internal standard.The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and ethyl acetate,then defatted with n-hexane.Sample concentration and purification were performed on C18.The qualification analysis was done by using retention time and distribution of diagnostic ion pairs,and the quantification analysis was based on the peak intensity of parent ion and a fragment ion with higher signal.A mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode.Results: The standard curve was linear over the concentration range of 0.1 μg/kg～10 μg/kg.The detection limit of the method was 0.03 μg/kg and the limit of quantification was 0.1 μg/kg,average recoveries of chloramphenicol ranged from 99% to 105%,both the intra-day and inter-day RSD were less than 8%.Conclusion: This method is simple,rapid,sensitive and accurate.It was suitable for the detection of chloramphenicol residues in fish.