The analysis of beta-agonists in bovine muscle using molecular imprinted polymers with ion trap LCMS screening

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the analysis of beta-agonists in bovine muscle is developed. Sample clean-up is based on molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs). The LC-MS method was validated for screening purposes. The validation results show that eight compounds (cimaterol, cimbuterol, ractopamine, clenproperol, clenbuterol, brombuterol, mabuterol, mapenterol and isoxsuprine) meet the requirements for quantitative determination using MIPs for sample clean-up. Reliable screening is possible as low as 1 μg kg−1. The method was validated for bovine muscle but also has proven to be suitable for muscle samples from rabbit, duck and turkey, liver and various kinds of fish.