Determination of the hormonal growth promoter 17α-methyltestosterone in food-producing animals: Bovine hair analysis by HPLC–MS/MS

This paper describes the development, validation and application of a confirmatory method to detect 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) in bovine hair, to aid in controlling the administration of this growth promoter in meat-producing animals. After cryogenic grinding, MT was removed from the hair matrix using a single step extraction procedure with acetonitrile. Hydroxylamine derivatisation was used to enhance analyte determination with an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source. Determination was carried out using a triple quadrupole liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (LC–MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). The method was validated in accordance with the criteria defined in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and using deuterated testosterone (T-d3) as the internal standard. The decision limit (CCα) was 0.07 ng g−1 and the detection capability (CCβ) was 0.12 ng g−1. Repeatability was CV% (7%), within-laboratory reproducibility was CV% (11.0%), and trueness was (87%). Applicability of the method was demonstrated in an animal study. Samples obtained from animal experiments were analyzed and the presence of MT was confirmed.