U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Food
  3. Science & Research (Food)
  4. Laboratory Methods (Food)
  5. Detection of Nitrofuran Metabolites in Shrimp
  1. Laboratory Methods (Food)

Detection of Nitrofuran Metabolites in Shrimp

April 1, 2004

A. SCOPE

This method is used for total residues screening of 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), 5-methyl-morpholino-3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AMOZ), semicarbazide (SC), and 1-aminohydantoin (AH), (which are metabolites of furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurazone, and nitrofirantion, respectively) in shrimp.

The method involves overnight acid hydrolysis and simultaneous derivatization with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (2-NBA), pH adjustment, liquid-liquid extraction, and detection of 2-NBA derivatives of AOZ, AMOZ, SC, and AH by LC-MS-MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry).

B. APPARATUS

  1. Adjustable pipettors (Eppendorf)
  2. Balance (AND HM-202)
  3. Balance (Mettler PM 4800)
  4. Water bath with shaker with a homemade platform (New Brunswick Scientific, Innova 3100)
  5. Centrifuge (SORVALL, RC 5C Plus)
  6. pH meter (ORION model 401 Aplus)
  7. Vortex mixer (Vortex-Genie 2 mixer)
  8. Solid phase extraction manifolder 24 port (Supelco/Sigma-Aldrich)
  9. Evaporator: TurboVap with a 15 ml test tube rack (Zymark, Hopkinton, MA)
  10. Disposable 50 ml centrifuge tubes (VWR, 21008-240)
  11. Disposable 20 ml reservoirs (part No.12131011, Varian)
  12. Disposable frits (part No.12131023, Varian)
  13. Disposable 15 ml tube (part No. 3131-340, LabCon)
  14. Disposable 3 ml syringe (part No. 309595, B.D.)
  15. Disposable 2 µm syringe filter (GelmanLab, No. 2003-09)
  16. 1.8 ml autosampler vial (Finnigan, No. A4954-010)

C. LC-MS-MS EQUIPMENT

  1. LC/Triple Quadrupole MS/MS:
  2. Injection loop on injection port in the autosampler: 50 µl
  3. Syringe in the autosampler: 250 µl
  4. Sample transfer tube (Part # 60053-60012S) in AS: 17 µl (dead volume)
  5. Standard tray (P/N F118-010): in two rows, 2x20
  6. LC column: Inertsil ODS-3 5µ 130 x 2.0 mm (Varian Part # 0396-150X021)
  7. Guard column: 2.0 mm ODS-3 5µ (Varian Part # 0396-MG2)
  8. MetaSaver Precolumn Filter: 2µ Disposable (Varian Part # 6007)

D. CHEMICALS and SOLVENTS

  1. Methanol (MeOH) (High purity solvent, Burdick & Jackson)
  2. Ethyl Acetate (EtOAc) (High purity solvent, Burdick & Jackson)
  3. Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) (Concentrated, Fisher Scientific)
  4. Formic acid (class IIIA, 90%, Fisher Scientific)
  5. Sodium Chloride (NaCl,)(Certified A.C.S, Fisher Scientific)
  6. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate trihydrate (K2HPO4) (Certified A.C.S, Fisher Scientific)
  7. Solid and dry pellet sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (Mallinckrodf)
  8. 2-Nitrobenzaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich)
  9. Distilled and deionized water generated in house
  10. NBA-SC, NBA-AH, NBA-AMOZ, and NBA-AOZ (2-NBA derivatives of SC, AH, AMOZ, and AOZ, respectively; 10 mg analytical standards, identity confirmed by NMR, HPLC purity > 99% (Sigma-Aldrich cat. # 33868, 33869, 33870, and 33871, respectively)

E. SAFETY

Safety procedures for handling, storage, and disposal of chemical solvent and their wastes should be strictly followed. The safety precautions for running instruments and apparatus should be strictly followed. Protective clothing, gloves, and safety glasses should be worn at all times when handling solvents or chemicals, and when performing procedure. Fume hood should be used when handling hazardous solvents and chemicals. The material safety data sheet (MSDS) for chemicals used should be followed.

F. REAGENTS

  1. 0.125M HCl
    Add 5.2 ml of conc. HCl to approximately 200 ml of water in a 500 ml volumetric flask. Add water to mark and mix by inverting.
  2. 0.1M K2HPO4
    Dissolve 17.4 g K2HPO4 in less than 1 L of water. Transfer the solution into 1L volumetric flask and add water to the mark.
  3. 0.8M NaOH
    Dissolve 3.2 g NaOH in less than 100 ml of water. Transfer the solution in 100 ml volumetric flask and add water to the mark.
  4. 0.125M NaOH
    Dilute 10 ml of 0.8 M NaOH into 630 ml of water.
  5. 0.1% formic acid
    Add 1 ml of formic acid into less than 1 L of water in a 1 L water volumetric flask and add water to the mark.
  6. 50 mM 2-NBA
    Dissolve 0.07555g 2-NBA in 10 ml MeOH.
  7. 50/50 v/v water/MeOH
    Add 50 ml MeOH into 50 ml of water.

G. STANDARD SOLUTIONS

  1. Dissolve 0.43, 0.56, 0.46, and 0.33 mg of NBA-AH, NBA-SC, NBA-AOZ, and NBA-AMOZ, respectively, in 100 ml MeOH. The resulting solutions (stock mixtures) contain 4.3 ng/µl, 5.6 ng/ml, 4.6 ng/µl, and 3.3 ng/µl of NBA-AH, NBA-SC, NBA-AOZ, and NBA-AMOZ, respectively. These concentrations correspond to 2 ng/µl of the underivatized metabolites (AH, SC, AOZ, and AMOZ).
  2. Dilute the stock mixture 500 times to prepare solution D500: 10 µl of stock solution plus 5 ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water (this concentration corresponds to 4 pg/µl of the underivatized metabolites).
  3. Prepare solution D1000: 2 ml of D500 solution plus 2 ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water (this concentration corresponds to 2 pg/µl of the underivatized metabolites).
  4. Prepare solution D2000: 2 ml of D1000 solution plus 2 ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water (this concentration corresponds to 1 pg/µl of the underivatized metabolites).
  5. Prepare solution D4000: 2 ml of D2000 solution plus 2 ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water (this concentration corresponds to 0.5 pg/µl of the underivatized metabolites).
  6. Prepare solution D8000: 2 ml of D4000 solution plus 2 ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water (this concentration corresponds to 0.25 pg/µl of the underivatized metabolites).

H. SAMPLE PREPARATION PROCEDURES

  1. Weigh 2.0 (± 0.1) g homogenized shrimp sample into the bottom of a 50 ml labeled centrifuge tube (VWR 21008-240). Record the weight of the sample.
  2. Add 10 ml of 0.125 M HCl and 400 µl of freshly prepared 50 mM 2-NBA in MeOH to each sample. Vortex-mix the tube with a cap on at setting 70 for 15 seconds.
  3. Place samples overnight (16 hours) into a water bath at 37°C with shaker set at 80 rpm.
  4. Cool samples to room temperature. Add 1 ml of 0.1M K2HPO4 and 1 ml of 0.8 M NaOH. Vortex-mix at setting 70 for 15 seconds.
  5. Determine the pH of the sample with a pH meter. Adjust pH to 7.3 ± 0.2 with 0.125 M HCl or NaOH. Record the final pH. Wash the electrode with water. Collect washing water. The final volume of the sample should be no more than 20 ml. Record the final volume.
  6. Centrifuge samples at 4°C and 3000 rpm for 5 min.
  7. Clean inside and outside of metal tubing on the filtration manifold with water. Attach 20 ml reservoirs (part No.12131011, Varian) to the manifold. Insert a frit (part No. 12131023, Varian) on the bottom of the reservoir. Place the frit rough face up. Put a new labeled 50 ml centrifuge tube under each reservoir.
  8. Decant the supernatant into the reservoir. Keep shrimp pellet for washing in next step. Apply vacuum and collect the filtrate.
  9. Add 3 ml of water into the shrimp pellet. Vortex-mix at setting 70 for 15 seconds. Centrifuge at 4°C and 3000 rpm for 5 min.
  10. Decant the second supernatant into the same reservoir. Apply vacuum and collect the second filtrate in the same 50 ml tube.
  11. Add water to adjust the total volume of the filtrate to 20 ml. Add approximately 0.5 g of NaCl and 12 ml of EtOAc to the filtrate. Close the tube with a cap and vortex-mix at setting 70 for 15 seconds.
  12. Centrifuge samples at 4°C and 3000 rpm for 5 min.
  13. Pipet top layer of EtOAc into a new labeled 15 ml tube. Add 2 ml of water into EtOAc extract. Pipet out the bottom (water) layer and discard it.
  14. Evaporate EtOAc extract to dryness using Zymark evaporator at 40°C.
  15. Add 1ml of 50/50 (v/v) MeOH/water into each tube with dried sample. Vortex-mix at setting 70 for 15 seconds.
  16. Transfer the final solution into a 3 ml syringe (B.D. 309595) with a 2 µm syringe filter (GelmanLab, 2003-09). Filter the solution into a labeled 1.8 ml autosampler vial (Finnigan, No. A3954-010) for LC/MS/MS analysis.

I. LC-MS-MS ANALYSIS PROCEDURES

Equipment set up

  1. LC/Triple Quadrupole MS/MS: a Surveyor LC pump, a Surveyor Autosampler (AS), a Surveyor PDA and a ThermoFinnigan TSQ Quantum triple quadrupole mass spectrometer AM (accurate mass) are connected in series. The injection loop on injection port in the autosampler is 50 µl, the syringe in the autosampler is 250 µl. The sample transfer tube (Part # 60053-60012S) in AS is 17 µl (dead volume). The tray is standard tray (P/N F118-010) able to contain 40 1.8 ml vials with septa and screw cap (Part # A4954-010) in two rows.
  2. LC column is an Inertsil ODS-3 5µ 130 x 2.0 mm (Varian Part # 0396-150X021) with a guard column of 2.0 mm ODS-3 5µ (Varian Part # 0396-MG2). A MetaSaver Precolumn Filter 2µ Disposable (Varian Part # 6007) is installed between the guard column and injection port on the autosampler.

Methods for LC/MS

  1. Surveyor autosampler method
    Needle height from bottom: 2.0 mm.
    Injection volume and mode: 40 µl, no waste.
    Post-injection valve switch time: 0.0 min
    Loop loading speed: 5 µl/s
    Syringe speed: 8 µl/s
    Flush/Wash source is Wash bottle containing 50/50 (v/v) methanol/water.
    Flush/Wash volume: 400 µl
    Flush speed: 250 µl/s
    Tray temperature control: On. Temperature: 10°C
    Column Oven Control: On. Temperature: 30°C
  2. LC method
    Mobile phase A: 0.1% v/v formic acid in deionized (DI) water
    Mobile phase B: MeOH
    Allow mobile phase A/B at 45/55 (v/v) to run through HPLC system for at least 30 min at flow rate 0.15 ml/min to equilibrate the system.
    Gradient Program:
    From 0 min to 8 min: 0.15 ml/min flow rate, keep mobile phase A/B at 45/55
    From 8 to 8.5 min: 0.15 ml/min flow rate, mobile phase A/B from 45/55 to 0/100
    From 8.5 to 8.7 min: flow rate from 0.15 to 0.30 ml/min, keep mobile phase A/B at 0/100
    From 8.7 to 15 min: keep flow rate at 0.30 ml/min, keep mobile phase A/B at 0/100
    From 15 to 15.5 min: keep flow rate at 0.30 ml/min, mobile phase A/B from 0/100 to 45/55
    From 15.5 to 20 min: keep flow rate at 0.30 ml/min, keep mobile phase A/B at 45/55
    From 20 to 21 min: flow rate from 0.30 to 0.15 ml/min, keep mobile phase A/B at 45/55
    From 21 to 30 min: keep flow rate at 0.15 ml/min, keep mobile phase A/B at 45/55.
    Pressure min/max: 0/431 bar
    Time/analysis: 30 min
    Retention times and MW
    Compound Retention time (min) MW
    NBA-AMOZ 3.1 334
    NBA-AH 5.5 248
    NBA-AOZ 5.6 235
    NBA-SC 5.7 208
  3. TSQ Quantum Method
    Acquire time: 30 min
    Ion Source: ESI
    ESI capillary position: 90 degree.
    Calibration File Type: High Resolution

    Ion Source
    I spray voltage: 4000 V
    Sheath gas pressure: 35 (arb)
    Aux gas pressure: 3 (arb)
    Tube Lens Offset: 121V
    Capillary Offset: 35 V
    Capillary temperature: 300°C
    Q2 collision gas: 1.5 mTorr,
    Positive polarity,
    Data type: centroid
    Chrom Filter Peak Width: unchecked
    Scan type: SRM
    Tube Lens: Tuned value
    Q1 power (peak width m/z): 0.7 FWHM
    Q3 power (peak width m/z): 0.7 FWHM
    Number of segments: 1
    Number of events: 2

    Event 1 conditions:

    SRM (selective reaction monitor) table of scan event 1:

    Parent (m/z) Product (m/z) Width (m/z) Time (s) Collision Energy (V)
    209 134 1 0.2 13
    209 166 1 0.2 11
    209 192 1 0.2 15
    Source CID Collision energy: 10

    Event 2 conditions:

    SRM table of scan event 2:

    Parent (m/z) Product (m/z) Width (m/z) Time (s) Collision Energy (V)
    236 104 1 0.2 15
    236 134 1 0.2 12
    236 149 1 0.2 13
    249 104 1 0.2 15
    249 134 1 0.2 13
    249 178 1 0.2 13
    335 128 1 0.2 8
    335 262 1 0.2 10
    335 291 1 0.2 12
    Source CID Collision energy: 15
  4. Injection sequence (injection is always 40 µl)

    1. Inject a 50/50 (v/v) water/MeOH blank as the first and second injection (volume)
    2. Inject method blank as the third injection
    3. Inject a 50/50 (v/v) water/MeOH blank before and after each sample, STD (standard) and method blank.
    4. Inject D8000 standard sample both to start and to end the bracket of samples.

J. CONFIRMATION CRITERIA

  1. Retention time of the analytes must agree within 5% of that of standard.
  2. The two ion ratios of the analytes must agree within 10% of that of standard.

Comments or questions on method procedures may be directed to:

Albert Thompson, Chemist
FDA/ORA/NERL/HFR-NE580
158-15 Liberty Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11433
718-340-7172
albert.thompson@fda.hhs.gov

Press inquiries MUST be directed to:

FDA Office of Public Affairs
Shelly Burgess, 301-796-4651
shelly.burgess@fda.hhs.gov

Back to Top