Development of an HPLC multi-residue method for the determination of ten quinolones in bovine liver and porcine kidney according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC

A sensitive multi-residue analytical method was developed for the determination of ten quinolones: enoxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, and flumequine in bovine liver and porcine kidney. A simple liquid extraction step followed by a solid phase extraction clean up procedure was applied for the extraction of quinolones from liver and kidney tissues. Recoveries of the extraction varied between 82 and 88% for bovine liver and 92 and 95% for porcine kidney. Separation was performed on an ODS-3 PerfectSil Target (250 x 4 mm) 5 mu m analytical column at 25 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of TFA 0.1 % - CH3CN - CH3OH, delivered at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min according to a gradient program. Elution of quinolones and the internal standard (caffeine, 7.5 ng/mu L) was complete within 27 min. Photodiode array detection was used for monitoring the eluants at 275 and 255 nm. The method was fully validated according to the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC, determining linearity, selectivity, decision limit, detection capability, accuracy, and precision. The LODs of the specific method of quinolone determination in bovine liver varied between 3 and 7 mu g/kg and in porcine kidney between 3 and 4 mu g/kg.