Melamine food safety test method

A 5-minute LC-MS/MS analysis method has been developed for the detection and quantification of melamine and cyanuric acid (CA) by food safety laboratories.

This robust, easy-to-use method for the extraction, detection and quantification of melamine and CA uses the sensitivity and quantitative capabilities of the high-capacity ion-trap mass spectrometer HCTultra, hyphenated with a Dionex UltiMate 3000 LC system and Acclaim Mixed-Mode WAX-1 column.

The method is claimed to be capable of detecting melamine in various matrixes below the concentrations required by various food safety and regulatory authorities around the world, such as the limits set by the US FDA of 1 ppm for melamine and cyanuric acid in infant formula, and 2.5 ppm for other foods. It is claimed the system can detect melamine down to levels of 0.05 ppb with quantification possible in 5 minutes.