Development and validation of a rapid HPLC method for multiresidue determination of erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin in aquaculture fish muscles

An accurate, sensitive, and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection has been developed for simultaneous determination of erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin residues in fish muscles. Analysis was carried out using a Shodex Asahipak high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column, monitoring was at 210 nm and a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer (pH 11 ± 0.05) in the ratio of 60:40 ( v/v ). Solid-phase extraction method was used in samples extraction and purification. Recoveries were in the range 72.0–92.2% with relative standard deviation (RSD) from 2.3% to 8.3%. This method was validated for fish muscles in aquaculture following the commission decision 2002/657/EC criteria. It is demonstrated that the new method is robust for detection and quantification of the three macrolides residues. Decision limit (CCα) was from 214 to 228 μg/kg and capacity of detection (CCβ) was from 228 to 256 μg/kg.