Peer validation of a method to confirm chloramphenicol in honey by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is extracted from an aqueous dilution of honey using ethyl acetate. The extracts are evaporated and redissolved in water. CAP is then extracted from the aqueous solutions using reversed-phase solid-phase extraction cartridges. CAP is eluted from the reversed-phase cartridges with acetonitrile-water and re-extracted into ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate is evaporated, and the residue is reconstituted in an aqueous solution. Extracts are chromatographed using a reversed-phase column and analyzed by electrospray negative mode tandem mass spectrometry. Four product ions of precursors m/z 321 or 323 are monitored. The method meets confirmation criteria recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and 4-point identification criteria established by the European Union. With slight modifications to accommodate different equipment, the method was validated in 2 laboratories.