A sensitive and validated HPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of seven coccidiostats in bovine whole milk

Sensitive and reliable methods for the identification and quantification of coccidiostats in milk are needed as the European Parliament had established maximum level for these substances in milk (Commission Regulation 124/2009/EC). This study presents a method for the simultaneous extraction, identification, and quantification of seven coccidiostats (robenidine, decoquinate, monensin, salinomycin, lasalocid, maduramicin, and narasin) in bovine whole milk. The method was validated in-house in accordance with the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Recoveries, decision limit, and limit of quantification values ranged from 69 to 109%, 9.9–18.4 μg kg−1, and 0.4–1.0 μg kg−1, respectively. The method was successfully applied to a total of 120 samples obtained from dairy farms located in the northwest of Spain, and decoquinate was detected in one of them.

► Since 2009 coccidiostats need to be monitored in milk in Europe.
► It was develop a method to determine 7 coccidiostats in milk.
► The method was validated according to the 2002/657/EC.
► Limits of quantification ranged from 0.4 to 1 μg Kg−1.
► It was applied in 120 samples from dairy farms, one was positive.