DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS-SPECTROMETRIC PROCEDURE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF RESIDUES OF CHLORAMPHENICOL

A method for the identification and quantification of residues of the antibiotic chloramphenicol was developed and validated. The method is based on combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with negative-ion chemical ionization and the use of [37Cl2]chloramphenicol as an internal standard. A set of identification criteria, in accordance with guidelines of the European Community, is described. For urine, muscle and eggs limits of detection and quantification of 0.1 μg kg-1 are obtained. The method shows good repeatability and reproducibility. Results for urine were compared with those obtained with a radioimmunochemical procedure and an enzyme immunoassay (Quik-Card). Screening with an immunochemical procedure followed by confirmation with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was found to be an effective strategy for monitoring residues of chloramphenicol in biological matrices. © 1990.