Randomized trial develops and validates an analytical method for nitroimidazole residues in food, suggesting a reliable approach for regulatory compliance.
Key Points
This study aimed to develop an integrated QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method for screening and quantifying nitroimidazole residues in food.
Samples were prepared using a unified QuEChERS procedure.
Dispersive solid-phase clean-up and LC-MS/MS analysis were conducted with isotope-labelled internal standards.
The method was validated for various matrices, including muscle, milk, and aquatic products.
Excellent linearity was achieved (r2 ≥ 0.99) for nitroimidazole detection.
Limits of quantification ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 µg/kg across matrices with recoveries between 84 to 116%.
Matrix effects were controlled, with values ranging from 91 to 110%.