GC-MS analysis of beta-agonists in liver spiked at 1ng g-1 (extracted ion chromatograms)
Notes:
The use of beta-agonists for growth promotion in food producing animals is prohibited in many countries including those in the European Union (EC Directive 96/22/EC). Surveillance for illicit use of beta-agonists requires an analytical procedure capable of rapid sample throughput together with sensitive measurement of a number of different compounds in the same sample. The method must also be capable of rapid adaptation to include new beta-agonists which may be abused in the future. Beta-agonists are metabolised by the liver and are excreted in the urine.
The beta-agonists are detected as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. The reaction involves the replacement of an active hydrogen (e.g. RO-H, R-NH) by an alkylsilyl group.