Antibiotic Residue LC–MS/MS Quantification Service | Antibiotics Targeted Metabolomics

Antibiotic Residue Analysis Overview: What It Is and Why It Matters

Antibiotic residues are trace amounts of antimicrobial drugs and their metabolites that remain in food products, environmental compartments or biological samples after administration or discharge. In real-world scenarios, multiple antibiotic classes—such as sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and β-lactams—often co-exist in a single sample, and concentrations can be at sub-ppb to ng·L⁻¹ levels.

Antibiotic residue analysis with LC–MS/MS is a targeted, quantitative approach to measure trace levels of multiple antibiotics and their key metabolites in complex samples. Instead of screening one compound at a time, a single method can track many drugs across large sample sets with high sensitivity and specificity.

You typically need this service when:

• You must prove or quantify antibiotic presence in food, environmental or biological samples.
• You need numeric concentration data, not just "detected / not detected".
• You want a multi-class, multi-sample study without spending months on method development and validation.

Antibiotic Residue Panels and Typical Study Designs

Target List: Antibiotic Classes and Analytes Covered

Our antibiotic residue LC–MS/MS panels are organized by major antibiotic classes. Below is an example of the typical analytes that can be included; the list can be tailored or expanded according to your study needs.

*The exact analyte list for your project (including additional antibiotics, metabolites and degradation products) can be provided as a detailed Excel or PDF file on request, and can be adjusted to match your internal target list or study protocol.

Advantages of Our Antibiotic Residue LC–MS/MS Service

• Multi-class coverage – Single LC–MS/MS method quantifies dozens of antibiotics across sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, β-lactams and more in one run.
• High sensitivity – Detection limits typically reach sub-ppb levels in food matrices and ng·L⁻¹ ranges in water, suitable for trace-residue studies.
• Robust method performance – Validated workflows routinely achieve recoveries around 70–120% with intra-/inter-batch RSD commonly below 15%.
• High-precision calibration – Targeted LC–MS/MS with isotope-labeled internal standards; calibration curves typically reach R² ≥ 0.99 across the working range.
• Matrix-optimised extraction – SPE, LLE or QuEChERS-based clean-up is selected per matrix to control matrix effects and improve reproducibility.
• Scalable throughput – Batch designs support tens to hundreds of samples, enabling large surveillance studies, depletion trials and time-course experiments.
• Embedded quality control – Each batch includes blanks, matrix spikes, QC samples and system suitability checks to track method stability over time.

Analytical Platforms: LC–MS/MS Systems and Key Parameters

Our antibiotic residue analysis is performed on UHPLC systems coupled to triple quadrupole LC–MS/MS instruments, optimised for targeted, multi-residue quantification.

• UHPLC separation – Reversed-phase columns (e.g., C18, sub-3 µm), aqueous/organic gradients tuned for polar to moderately hydrophobic antibiotics, typical run time ~10–25 min per sample.
• Triple quadrupole MS – Electrospray ionisation (ESI), positive/negative polarity as required, operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) to achieve high selectivity and sensitivity.
• High MRM capacity – Simultaneous monitoring of large MRM panels, enabling multi-class antibiotic quantification in a single injection.
• Stable long-run performance – Source and chromatographic conditions optimised for long sequences with complex matrices.

Where appropriate, GC–MS/MS can be used as a complementary platform for selected volatile or thermally stable antibiotics and degradation products, with dedicated extraction and derivatisation workflows.

Agilent 6495C Triple Quadrupole (Figure from Agilent)

Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC (Fig from Agilent)

Agilent 7890B-5977A (Figure from Agilent)

Workflow: How the Antibiotics Targeted Metabolomics Service Runs

1

Project Consultation

We clarify your study goals, sample types, target antibiotics, expected concentration ranges and preferred turnaround, then recommend a suitable standard or custom panel.

2

Sample Preparation & Shipping

You receive matrix-specific instructions covering required volume/mass, containers, storage and shipping conditions so samples arrive in good, consistent condition.

3

In-Lab Sample Pretreatment

Samples are logged and processed using matrix-optimised protocols (e.g., homogenisation, protein precipitation, LLE, SPE or QuEChERS), with internal standards added to control extraction and matrix effects.

4

LC–MS/MS Acquisition

Prepared extracts are analysed on UHPLC–triple quadrupole LC–MS/MS systems using multi-residue MRM methods. Each batch includes blanks, calibration standards and QC samples.

5

Data Processing & QC Review

We perform peak integration, internal-standard normalisation and calibration, then review QC performance (recovery, precision, drift) and flag values below LOD/LOQ or outside acceptance criteria.

6

Reporting & Optional Interpretation

You receive structured concentration tables, a concise method and QC summary, representative chromatograms and, if requested, basic plots and brief interpretation notes aligned with your study design.

Sample Requirements for Antibiotic Residue Analysis

Exact volumes, containers and conditions will be confirmed in your project quotation and sample submission guidelines.

Antibiotic Residue LC–MS/MS Results & Data Deliverables

• Quantitative result table (Excel/CSV) with antibiotic concentrations per sample, units, and <LOD/<LOQ flags.
• Summary method and QC report (PDF) describing sample preparation, LC–MS/MS method, calibration range and key performance metrics.
• QC overview table with recovery, precision (RSD) and basic validation parameters for the relevant matrix.
• Representative MRM chromatograms for selected antibiotics in standards and real samples.
• Optional comparison plots (e.g., group-wise bar charts, boxplots or time-course curves) on request.
• Optional brief data interpretation notes aligned with the study design (e.g., between-group or time-point trends).
• Optional raw LC–MS/MS data files (vendor format) for in-house reprocessing or archiving.

Multi-residue LC–MS/MS MRM chromatograms for multiple antibiotic classes in standard and matrix samples, showing good separation and signal-to-noise.

Calibration curves and LOD/LOQ summary for representative antibiotics, demonstrating linear response and low detection limits in LC–MS/MS analysis.

Recovery and RSD results for selected antibiotics in a real matrix, with most recoveries within 70–120% and RSD values below 15%.

Example antibiotic residue data showing site-specific patterns in a heatmap and between-site differences in grouped boxplots for key compounds.

Applications: Where Antibiotics Targeted Metabolomics Adds Value

Food Safety 

Multi-residue monitoring of veterinary antibiotics in meat, milk, eggs, honey and aquaculture products to support exposure assessment and method development.

Environmental Monitoring

Quantification of antibiotic contamination in surface water, wastewater, groundwater and sediments for pollution tracking and treatment evaluation.

Aquaculture Research

Evaluation of antibiotic usage, depletion and carry-over in fish, shrimp and feed under experimental or farm conditions.

Veterinary Drug Studies

Characterization of antibiotic exposure, tissue distribution and depletion profiles in animal models and controlled dosing studies.

Microbiome & AMR Research

Linking measured antibiotic levels with changes in microbiota composition and antimicrobial resistance markers in gut or environmental communities.

Process & Stability

Assessing the impact of processing, storage, treatment and environmental degradation on antibiotic levels in food and environmental matrices.