A rapid and reliable assay to determine flumequine, marbofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin in commonly consumed meat by micellar liquid chromatography

BACKGROUND Micellar liquid chromatography – fluorescence detection was used to determine the antibiotics flumequine, marbofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin in porcine, bovine, poultry, ovine, caprine, rabbit, and equine meat, to verify compliance with EU Regulation 37/2010 with regard to the occurrence of veterinary drugs in food. RESULTS The analytes were isolated from the matrix by ultrasonication‐assisted leaching in a micellar solution, and the supernatant was filtered and directly injected. The fluoroquinolones were resolved in < 19 min using a C18 column, with an isocratic mobile phase of 0.05 mol L −1 sodium dodecyl sulfate ‐ 8% 1‐butanol – 0.5% triethylamine buffered at pH 3. The limits of quantification (0.01–0.05 mg kg −1 ) were below the maximum residue limits (0.15–0.4 mg kg −1 ). The method was validated by EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC guidelines. CONCLUSION The method shows practical advantages such as simplicity, low cost, eco‐friendliness, safety, and applicability for routine analysis, and is useful for surveillance programs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry