Development of analytical methods for multiresidue determination of quinolones in pig muscle samples by liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromagraphy–tandem mass spectrometry

This paper presents a comparison between liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC–UV), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) methods developed for the multiresidue determination of 8 quinolones, around their maximum residue levels (MRLs) in pig muscle. The procedure involves common extraction of the quinolones from the tissues by traditional extraction, a step for clean-up and preconcentration of the analytes by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and a subsequent liquid chromatographic analysis. The methods present satisfactory results of linearity, precision and limits of quantification much lower than the MRLs established by the European Union for quinolones in pig tissues.