The Determination of Phenylbutazone in Food of Animal Origin Using the ACQUITY UPLC I-Class and Xevo TQ-S

Recent findings of undeclared horse meat in beef products in Europe prompted an urgent requirement for industry and regulatory authorities to analyze meat and meat products for the presence of horse tissue and residues of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) phenylbutazone (PBZ). PBZ is a veterinary medicine that is not permitted for use in the treatment of animals destined for the human food chain.

In this technology brief, low levels of phenylbutazone - below the EU recommended concentration of 5 µg/kg - are detected and quantified in muscle tissue using ultra-sensitive UPLC/MS/MS.