Analytical Services Tasmania (AST) has successfully fast-tracked the development of analytical methods for detecting the antibiotic Florfenicol across a range of sample types including fish tissue, water, sediments, and other solids. This adds to AST's antibiotic testing capability, having previously developed testing services for oxytetracycline (OTC).
There were significant technical challenges to overcome. Key being that Florfenicol binds strongly to tissue proteins and undergoes metabolic transformation in fish, producing several intermediate metabolites. This binding complicates testing and can lead to underestimation of residue levels. To address this, AST purchased specialist equipment to employ hot acid digestion during sample preparation. This technique not only releases bound Florfenicol but also converts both the parent compound and its metabolites into Florfenicol-amine - a more stable and readily detectable form. This approach significantly improves extraction efficiency and ensures accurate quantification.
AST's method can detect levels as low as 0.01 mg/kg (10 parts per billion, ppb), which is 100 times lower than the proposed Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 1 mg/kg. The test will be reported as the “Sum of Florfenicol and its metabolites measured as Florfenicol-amine". This aligns with international standards observed in China, Japan, the EU, and the USA.
For environmental samples such as sediments and other non-tissue matrices, AST has adopted the QuEChERS method (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe). Widely used for antibiotic and pesticides residue analysis, QuEChERS offers several advantages: minimal solvent use, scalability, rapid preparation, and effectiveness in complex matrices.
This rapid development underscores AST's commitment to scientific excellence and tailored testing services for our customers.
If you would like further information about this test or any of our other testing services please contact one of our friendly staff.
Florfenicol testing at AST (PDF 313Kb)