Criteria in chromatography and mass spectrometry - a comparison between regulations in the field of residue and doping analysis

Residue analysis and doping control aim at the detection of prohibited substances (often registered drugs) in biological matrices and are hence related fields of analysis. In both fields, the detection of such a prohibited substance has legal and economical implications for the persons involved (farmer, horse-owner, trainer or athlete). Hence, the necessary precautions need to be taken to ensure that the unequivocal presence of a substance has indeed been established. in each of these fields of analysis, chromatography and mass spectrometry are the primary techniques used in the identification process and, not surprisingly, the criteria to which these techniques must comply depend on the regulatory authority. It seems illogical that different sets of criteria exist for fields of analysis that are so closely related. However, because of the complexity encountered in these analyses, the creation of an "ideal" set of criteria encompassing and foreseeing all possible difficulties met by the analyst during his work seems impossible. This paper tries to give an overview of the similarities and differences in each set of regulations, while critically pointing out and illustrating pitfalls and positive aspects of each set of regulations in an attempt to aid the analyst in the decision process when regulations leave room for interpretation. The need for the analyst to critically evaluate the regulations is illustrated in two examples.