Application Note: Sensitive method for the determination of fipronil

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide from the group of phenylpyrazoles used in many countries as a biocide and for plant protection product against fleas, lice, ticks, cockroaches, mites and other insects…

Fipronil is an active compound in veterinary products fighting tick and flea infestations in dogs and cats. Its use as a plant protection product has been restricted to seed treatment in the European Union since 2007. However, due to its illegal use as an addition to the cleaning supplies used in chicken coops, eggs and meat can also become contaminated.

THE MRL (maximum residue levels) for fipronil and its metabolite fipronil sulfone (which is classified as having similar toxicity) in eggs is set to 0.005 mg/kg by the EU (by definition, the sum of fipronil and fipronil-sulfone expressed as fipronil), so that there is a requirement for the determination of both compounds in egg matrix at a relatively low level.

This application note presents a simple method using a standard QuEChERS extraction protocol followed by LC-MS/MS detection.