Validation of HPLC method of analysis of tetracycline residues in eggs and broiler meat and its application to a feeding trial

HPLC with ion-pairing chromatography and diodearray detection at 355 nm was used to determine tetracycline antibiotics in eggs and broiler meat. The analytical methods were optimized and validated. The mean recovery values for oxytetracycline for eggs and for tetracycline for breast meat were 76%. The within-day precision ranged from 8.0 to 11.8% for oxytetracycline in eggs and from 6.1 to 15.5% for tetracycline in breast meat. The between-day precision was 4.8% and 5.0% respectively for oxytetracycline in eggs and tetracycline in breast meat. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation for oxytetracycline in eggs were 2.2 and 13.0 ng/g respectively. These limits for tetracycline in breast meat were 10.5 and 20.9 ng/g respectively. Residue values of tetracycline antibiotics in eggs and broiler meat were determined after oral administration of medicated feed. Medicated feed with 840 mg/kg oxytetracycline was provided to laying hens for seven successive days. Two days after the administration was stopped, the mean oxytetracycline residue value in the eggs was already lower than the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL)-level and reached 118 ng/g. Broilers were supplied with medicated feed containing 480 mg/kg tetracycline for seven successive days. Four days after the administration was stopped, the mean tetracycline residue value in breast meat decreased below the MRL and was 86 ng/g.