Comparative Assessment of Antibiotic Residues Using Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a Rapid Screening Test in Raw Milk Collected from the North-Central Algerian Dairies

Antibiotic residues in milk are a major health threat for the consumer and a hazard to the dairy industry, causing significant economic losses. This study aims to assess the presence of antibiotic residues in raw milk comparatively by a rapid screening test (BetaStar(R) Combo) and Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 445 samples were collected from 3 dairy companies of north-central Algeria (Algiers, Blida, Boumerdes), and they were rapidly screened for beta-lactams and tetracyclines; 52 samples, comprising 34 positive tanker-truck milk and 18 negative bulk-tank milk were tested by LC-MS/MS, which revealed 90.4% were contaminated (n = 47) and 55.3% exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). The beta-lactams as parent compounds and their metabolites were the most frequently detected with maximum value for cloxacillin (1231 mu g/kg) and penicillin G (2062 mu g/kg). Under field condition, the false-positive results, particularly for tetracyclines, seems to be related to milk samples displaying extreme acidity values (>= 19 degrees D) or fat-level fluctuations (2.7 g/100 mL and 5.6-6.2 g/100 mL). Despite a relatively low prevalence (7.64%) of residues using the rapid test, the detection by LC-MS/MS of flumequine (52 mu g/kg), cefaclor (maximum 220 mu g/kg) and metabolites of beta-lactams at high levels should lead to reflections on the control of their human and environmental toxicological effects.