Quick screening of priority β-agonists in urine using automated TurboFlow™-LC/Exactive mass spectrometry.
This paper describes a method for the determination of priority β-agonists in urine based on a fully automated sample preparation procedure using an online TurboFlow™ chromatography clean-up step and determination with Orbitrap™ mass analyser technology. The principle of the method was the enrichment of the β-agonists after enzymatic hydrolysis overnight on a small column packed with a special stationary phase (TurboFlow™) while flushing away sample matrix and interfering compounds. Thereafter, the analytes were transferred onto an analytical column and detected by liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry in full-scan mode at a resolution of R = 50,000 FWHM (full width at half maximum) and in higher energy collisional dissociation (HCD) scan mode at a resolving power of 10,000 FWHM. The optimisation of each step of the method, such as selection of the TurboFlow™ and analytical column as well as sample loading and elution parameters were performed using a standard solution containing salbutamol, clenbuterol and mabuterol at a concentration of 100 µg l(-1). The developed automated sample preparation significantly improved the throughput and efficiency of the previously used screening method and it resulted in a considerable reduction in analysis time. Validation experiments including 24 β-agonists in urine gave decision limits (CCα) between 0.05 and 0.35 µg l(-1). The repeatability of analyses for urine samples spiked at 0.5 µg l(-1) was within the range of 5-26% and recoveries for all compounds were within 89-107%.
Chemical and Veterinary Analytical Institute Münsterland-Emscher-Lippe, Münster, Germany. thorsten.bernsmann@cvua-mel.de
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Bernsmann
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Fürst
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Godula
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000652:urine*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D002417:Cattle; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013552:Swine
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000420:Albuterol; C044573:mabuterol; D002976:Clenbuterol