LC-MS-MS to detect and identify four beta-agonists and quantify clenbuterol in liver

European legislation forbids the use of beta-agonists as growth-promoting substances in cattle raised for human consumption. However, the use of beta-agonists is allowed as a therapeutic treatment of tocolysis for female cattle during calving and of respiratory diseases and tocolysis for horses not raised for human consumption. A maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.5 microgram kg-1 for clenbuterol in the liver of cattle and horses is proposed by law. Residues of beta-agonists in liver are identified with LC-MS-MS. Using ion trap technology, it was possible to identify each analyte without the need to resolve completely the chromatographic peaks. For each analyte, specific fragment ion spectra were obtained. The coeluting or incompletely resolved peaks were separated mass spectrometrically. For tulobuterol, bromobuterol and mabuterol, qualitative information was obtained. All beta-agonists could be detected up to a concentration of 0.1 microgram kg-1. For clenbuterol, a limited quantitative validation was performed. A working range was defined for which the method was applicable. Quantification was based on the integration of the response of the analytes in spiked blank liver samples. The mean recovery was 15%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values at different concentrations were below the maximum allowed RSD. The limit of detection of clenbuterol was 0.11 microgram kg-1. The limit of quantification was 0.21 microgram kg-1. It was possible to quantify clenbuterol below one-half of the MRL. The advantage of this method is the ease of use of the mass spectrometric separation to qualify and quantify the presence of four beta-agonists in liver.