Validation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of aflatoxin B 1 residues in broiler liver

Abstract Aflatoxin B 1 is a carcinogenic and mutagenic mycotoxin produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus . It is the predominant mycotoxin found in raw materials used for the manufacture of broiler feeds. The aim of the present study was to develop a new and optimized method for the detection and quantification of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) residues in broiler liver using solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) detection. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The validation parameters indicated satisfactory linearity ( r 2  > 0.99), accuracy and precision (4.57% intra-day RSD; 14.65% inter-day RSD) a very high recovery (99 ± 13%) and high sensitivity achieved for AFB 1 in animal samples (LOD = 0.017 and LOQ = 0.050 ng/g). The method was effective for the detection and quantification of AFB 1 residues in broiler liver and could also be potentially used for detecting AFB 1 in other edible animal tissues after natural or experimental AFB 1 exposure with high sensitivity and precision.