Determination of benzimidazoles and levamisole residues in milk by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry: Screening method development and validation

The screening method for the determination of residues of 19 benzimidazoles (parent drugs and their metabolites) and levamisole in bovine milk has been developed and validated. Milk samples were extracted with ethyl acetate, sample extracts were cleaned up by liquid–liquid partitioning with hexane and acidic ethanol. Liquid chromatography–single-quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for the separation and determination of analytes. The method was validated in bovine milk, according to the CD 2002/657/EC criteria. An alternative approach to the validation of the method was applied (“sum MRL” substances). The method was successfully verified in CRL proficiency test.