Abstract Background Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated organic chemicals, which include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFAS are persistent and bioaccumulate. PFAS can enter the food supply through plants and animals grown, raised, or processed in contaminated areas. Objective This single-laboratory validation (SLV) study was conducted for a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to determine 30 PFAS in a variety of foods, including produce, coffee, milk, protein powders, eggs, seafood, fish meat, edible offal, fish oil, baby food, and pet food, and compare with AOAC INTERNATIONAL Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®) 2023.003. Method Matrixes were extracted using acetonitrile and QuEChERS reagents then purified by solid phase extraction (SPE) and concentrated under nitrogen. Fish meat did not require concentration under nitrogen, and fish oil and edible offal did not require QuEChERS reagents and sample concentration to reach the required limit of quantitation (LOQ). Results The LC-MS/MS system provides linear responses in the range of 0.01–25 µg/kg for most target analytes, depending on the matrix. Triplicate determinations over at least three spiking concentrations were made in each matrix with quantitation by isotopic dilution. We evaluated recovery, precision, retention time, blanks, ion ratios and S/N of the qualifier ions in all matrixes to determine the LOQ. Potential interference from cholic acids were separated chromatographically. Conclusions The method developed and validated for the analysis of PFAS in food met the LOQ, and recovery and precision requirements of the SMPR. Highlights The LC-MS/MS method developed uses a single set of operating conditions enabling easy and rapid transfer of the method. The extraction is simplified, with only small variations necessary due to the sample matrix. The implementation of this method is cost effective to laboratories due to minimal solvent usage and labor required to extract samples.
Matsubara et al. (Wed,) studied this question.