Determination of clostebol residues in the urine of slaughter animals using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Introduction: Synthetic anabolic hormones, which may pose a potential risk to human health, should not be used in fattening food-producing animals. Because of the hormonal effects they cause, growth-promoting compounds are banned by legislation in the EU for use in animal husbandry. Consequently, all EU member states are required to conduct monitoring tests on the content and residues of these compounds in prescribed biological matrices to ensure the safety of food consumers. The aim of this research was to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of the residue of one such anabolic hormone, clostebol in food animal urine.

Material and methods: Clostebol and its marker metabolite residues were determined by a method involving enzymatic hydrolysis, isolation of compounds from urine on a C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) column, purification of the extract by liquid-liquid extraction using n-pentane and a NH₂ SPE column, and detection by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results: No traces of this anabolic steroid hormone or its metabolites were found in any of the samples tested. The method was validated in accordance with the current requirements for confirmatory methods, and the determined parameters of the decision limits necessary for assessing sample compliance met the specified criteria.

Conclusion: In 2023, the method was introduced for testing under the National Control Plan in Poland. Up to July 19, 2024, 53 urine samples from different animal species had been tested.

Keywords: LC-MS/MS; clostebol; hormone residue; urine.

Fig. 1.

Chemical structures of clostebol acetate and its metabolites

Fig. 2.

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry chromatograms of A – a blank animal urine sample (mixed bovine and porcine urine); B – a blank urine sample spiked with 17α/β-CLOS and CLAD at the individual CCα level; C – a blank urine sample spiked with 17α/β-CLOS and CLAD at MMPR=0.50 μg L⁻¹; D – a compliant routine bovine urine sample; E – a compliant routine porcine urine sample; F – a compliant routine ovine urine sample; G – a compliant routine equine urine sample. Note: chromatograms show transitions used for quantification for each analyte according to Table 1