Determination of dapsone in muscle tissue and milk using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass...

A precise and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of dapsone in muscle tissue and milk has been developed. The sample preparation was based on extraction with organic solvent and automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup. At least three product ions were monitored for the analyte. The method was validated according to the European Decision 2002/657/EC. Estimated analytical limits were 0.0018 ng/g for CCα and 0.0031 ng/g for CCβ in meat and milk. An excellent linear concentration range was observed for both matrices with a correlation coefficient better than 0.997. Recoveries were 105-117% in meat and 101-108% in milk, with satisfactory precision and coefficients of variance (CV) less than 8%. Additionally, a simplified quantification approach was successfully evaluated depending only on the response factor (F) without the use of calibration curve. The developed method provides reliable and sensitive identification and quantification of dapsone in meat and milk.