Development of Simultaneous Analytical Method for Streptomycin and Dihydrostreptomycin Detection in Agricultural Products Using LC-MS/MS
A method was developed for the simultaneous detection of an antibiotic fungicide, streptomycin, and its metabolite (dihydrostreptomycin) in agricultural products using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The samples were extracted using methanol adjusted to pH 3 using formic acid, and purified with a HLB (Hydrophilic lipophilic balance) cartridge. The matrix-matched calibration curves were constructed using seven concentration levels, from 0.001 to 0.1 mg/kg, and linearity of five agricultural products (hulled rice, potato, soybean, mandarin, green pepper), with coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 0.9906, for streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin. The mean recoveries at three fortification levels (LOQ, LOQ × 10, LOQ × 50, n = 5) were from 72.0~116.5% and from 72.1~116.0%, and relative standard deviations were less than 12.3% and 12.5%, respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.01 mg/kg, which are satisfactory for quantification levels corresponding with the Positive List System. All optimized results satisfied the criteria ranges requested in the Codex guidelines and the Food Safety Evaluation Department guidelines. The present study could serve as a reference for the establishment of maximum residue limits and be used as basic data for detection of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin in food.