Determination of flumequine and doxycycline in milk by a simple thin-layer chromatographic method

Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics have for many years served as important classes of veterinary drugs. Two representatives of both classes: doxycycline from tetracyclines and flumequine from quinolones are often administered together. When the withdrawal periods are not obeyed, the antibiotic residues may be present in edible products, e.g., in meat, eggs or milk. In the present paper a simple thin-layer chromatography (TLC) screening method is established for determining these drugs in milk. Only two developments of the plate with concentrating zone are needed: one as a clean-up procedure, the other as a proper analysis. The spots were detected both by UV lamp with dual wavelength (254 and 366 nm) and by densitometry. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.