Simple and rapid determination of biogenic amines in fish and fish products by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using 2,4,6-triethyl-3,5-dimethyl pyrylium trifluoromethanesulfonate as a derivatization reagent

Abstract A simple and rapid analytical method was developed for determination of four biogenic amines [histamine (Him), cadaverine (Cad), tyramine (Tym), 2-phenylethylamine (Pea)] in fish and fish products. This method uses a new derivatization reagent, 2,4,6-triethyl-3,5-dimethyl pyrylium trifluoromethanesulfonate (Py-Tag). The four biogenic amines in the samples were extracted with trichloroacetic acid. The diluted extract was derivatized with Py-Tag (15 min at 50°C) and then subjected to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The limits of quantification for the method were 2 mg/kg for Him, Tym, and Pea and 10 mg/kg for Cad. The matrix effects derived from the tested fish and fish products were negligible in the LC–MS/MS analysis. The impact of the sample matrices on the Py-Tag derivatization was also negligible. The trueness and repeatability of the method were assessed by performing replicate analyses (n = 5) of five samples of fish and fish products, each spiked with the four biogenic amines at three different concentration levels. Analysis of the samples found 87%–104% of the spiked concentrations and the relative standard deviations were