Screening method for the detection of residues of amphenicol antibiotics in bovine, ovine and porcine kidney by optical biosensor

An immunobiosensor assay was developed for the multi-residue screening of the parent amphenicols, thiamphenicol and florfenicol, along with the metabolite florfenicol amine, in bovine, ovine and porcine kidney. A polyclonal antiserum raised in a rabbit after inoculation with a florfenicol amine-protein conjugate was employed in the assay. Sample homogenates were extracted directly into acetonitrile, reconstituted in buffer and diluted prior to biosensor analysis. Validation data obtained from the analysis of fortified samples has shown that the method has a detection capability (CCβ) of less than 25 µg kg−1 (1/2 MRL) for thiamphenicol in the kidney of all three species, less than 150 µg kg−1(1/2 MRL) for florfenicol and florfenicol amine and less than 250 µg kg−1 (1/2 MRL) for florfenicol and florfenicol amine in bovine/ovine and porcine kidney respectively. Intra-assay variation (n=10) was calculated at 4.5% and 2.6% at concentrations of 10 µg kg−1 and 150 µg kg−1respectively for bovine kidney while inter-assay variation (n=3) was determined to be 5.0% and 16.5% respectively at the same concentrations. The cross-reactivity profile and validation data for the detection of these amphenicols is presented together with the results obtained following the analysis of florfenicol incurred samples using the developed method.