Simultaneous determination of 31 Sulfonamide residues in various livestock matrices using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The widespread use of sulfonamides can result in the residue of sulfonamides in the foods of animal origin that are the major concerns of consumers and regulatory bodies due to their adverse reaction such as the development of antibiotic resistance. A rapid and efficient multi-residue analytical method was developed to screen and confirm 31 sulfonamides in livestock samples in a single run, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with comprehensive mass spectrometric approaches. In this study, a novel sample preparation procedure was used, based on a modified QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe). The linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of the method were validated according to the Codex guidelines. The response of the detector was linear for each target compound over a wide concentration range, with a correlation coefficient (r²) greater than 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3 to 5 ng g⁻¹ and from 1 to 19 ng g⁻¹ and the average recoveries (%) for three laboratories ranged from 85 to 109% with a CV (n = 5) below 22%. The applicability of this screening method was verified using real livestock samples. The proposed analytical method achieves identification and quantification of target sulfonamides at trace levels in a short analysis time. None of the samples contained residues that exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL).