Veterinary Drug Residue Analysis Using The AutoMate-Q40: An Automated Solution To QuEChERS

QuEChERS is a Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe extraction method that has been developed for the determination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities. Since its installment in 2003, QuEChERS has been adapted for use with many additional matrices. Pesticide residues were extracted from the apple juice by using the AutoMate-Q40. Quantification was based on matrix-matched calibration curves with the use of internal standard to ensure method accuracy. QC samples were evaluated at levels of 10, 50, 100 ng/g to ensure precision and accuracy of the AutoMate-Q40.

The rise in popularity of this technique and the increase in sample testing have driven the need for automation of the QuEChERS method to increase productivity and throughput. The AutoMate-Q40 streamlines the QuEChERS method from adding Acetonitrile (ACN) and buffering salts, shaking, mixing, centrifugating the sample, transferring to a dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) tube, measuring and delivering the extract.

The aim of this project is to validate the performance of AutoMate-Q40 by monitoring various chemical residues in different matrices. The target residues will be determined by Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.