Analysis of Florfenicol in Meats

Analytical method for determination of florfenicol was developed for estimate veterinary drug residue of unestablished MRLs in meat. The method was validated in correspondence with the CODEX guideline for florfenicol residue in meat. The samples mixed with sodium sulfate were extracted with ethyl acetate. After clean-up, the residue was dissolved in mobile phase and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluores- cence detector. The calibration curve showed good linearity(r =0.9997) within the concentration range of 0.05~1.0 mg/ kg. The limit of detection(LOD) and limit of quantification(LOQ) were validated at 0.012 and 0.039 mg/kg, respec- tively. The recoveries in fortified meat ranged from 85.6 to 95.6 %(1.1~5.3 % RSD) at the 0.05 to 0.4 spiking levels. We monitored 150 samples of meats that were purchased in Korea(Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju). Among tested samples, florfenicol was detected in 1 of pig at the level of 0.040 mg/kg, and below LOQ in 1 of cattle, 2 of pig and 2 of chicken. The residues of florfenicol in the tested samples were within the MRLs.