1. Ultratrace LC-MS/MS Analysis of Segmented Calf Hair for Retrospective Assessment of Time of Clenbuterol Administration in Agriforensics
- Author
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Saskia S. Sterk, Thijs Meijer, Michel W. F. Nielen, Ruth J.P. Peeters, Teris A. van Beek, Wilco F. Duvivier, and M.J. Groot
- Subjects
Time Factors ,Novel Foods & Agrochains ,BU Toxicologie ,Tandem mass spectrometry ,Novel Foods & Agroketens ,BU Dierbehandelingsmiddelen ,BU Veterinary Drugs ,calves ,beta-agonist residues ,contamination ,Tandem Mass Spectrometry ,human urine ,Lc ms ms ,Adrenergic beta-Agonists ,medicine ,Animals ,tandem mass-spectrometry ,Clenbuterol ,samples ,BU Toxicology, Novel Foods & Agrochains ,Directie ,Growth Substances ,Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ,Retrospective Studies ,VLAG ,performance liquid-chromatography ,Chromatography ,Chemistry ,Hair analysis ,BU Toxicology ,Organic Chemistry ,Veterinary Drugs ,General Chemistry ,Organische Chemie ,Drug Residues ,BU Toxicologie, Novel Foods & Agroketens ,cattle ,Treatment study ,bovine hair ,equine hair ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Hair ,medicine.drug - Abstract
In agriforensics, time of administration is often debated when illegal drug residues, such as clenbuterol, are found in frequently traded cattle. In this proof-of-concept work, the feasibility of obtaining retrospective timeline information from segmented calf tail hair analyses has been studied. First, an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) hair analysis method was adapted to accommodate smaller sample sizes and in-house validated. Then, longitudinal 1 cm segments of calf tail hair were analyzed to obtain clenbuterol concentration profiles. The profiles found were in good agreement with calculated, theoretical positions of the clenbuterol residues along the hair. Following assessment of the average growth rate of calf tail hair, time of clenbuterol administration could be retrospectively determined from segmented hair analysis data. The data from the initial animal treatment study (n = 2) suggest that time of treatment can be retrospectively estimated with an error of 3-17 days.
- Published
- 2015