Determination of chloramphenicol in shrimp by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS)

A liquid chromatographic method with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS-MS) detection and identification is described for the determination of chloramphenicol (CAP) in shrimp tissue. Homogenized shrimp samples were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate. d(5)-Chloramphenicol (5D-CAP) was used as the internal standard. Data acquisition was in negative-ion multiple reaction monitoring (NMRM) mode using three transition reactions for CAP (m/z 321 -> 152, m/z 321 -> 257 and m/z 321 -> 194) and two for d(5)-chloramphenicol (m/z 326 -> 262 and m/z 326 -> 157). Method validation was carried out according to European Commission decision 2002/657/EC. The calibration curve was linear in the range 0.10-2.00 mu g 1(-1), with typical r(2) > 0.99. The decision limit (CC alpha) and detection capability (CC beta) were 0.06 and 0.10 mu g kg(-1), respectively. There was no influence of the matrix on the determination of chloramphenicol.