Determination of the coccidiostat diclazuril in poultry feed and meat by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) for the detection of the coccidiostat diclazuril in poultry meat and feed was developed. After an appropriate extraction with an organic solvent, the samples were injected into the LC-MS/MS system on a C18 column. A gradient with acetonitrile and water, each containing 0.1% formic acid, was applied. A structure analogue of diclazuril was used as internal standard. The precursor ions produced by negative electrospray ionisation were selected for collisional dissociation with argon. For diclazuril, two product ions were recorded with multiple reaction monitoring. Validation of the methods was performed based on commission decision 2002/657/EC [1]. The methods were applied to real-life samples: meat of a home-bred chicken and its feed were analysed.