Abstract:

A rapid, specific and highly sensitive method was developed for the determination of 7 exogenous anabolic steroid residues in milk based on ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) in the positive ion mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Samples were extracted with methanol with the assistance of ultrasonic and cleaned up using LC-C18 solid phase extraction cartridge. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out in the MRM mode after chromatographic separation using Waters ACQUITY UPLCTM BEH C18 (1.7 μm, 2.1mm × 100 mm) column. The limits of detection (LOD) of 7 exogenous anabolic steroids by the method ranged from 0.01 to 0.25μg/kg and the limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.06－0.5 μg/kg. Average spike recoveries for 7 exogenous anabolic steroids at the level of 10 μg/kg ranged from 83% to 124%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) between 4.3% and 24%.

Key words: ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), anabolic steroid, milk