This document describes a method for the determination of individual ergot alkaloids and tropane alkaloids in unprocessed cereals and cereal-based compound feeds by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

This document has been successfully validated by collaborative trial in the following matrices: rye, barley, wheat, complete feed for bovine, porcine and poultry. Validation in buckwheat produced acceptable results, but the relative standard reproducibility was higher for most analytes in comparison with the other matrices. This may be related to the matrix. The validated range of the method is approximately 10µg/kg to 250µg/kg for individual alkaloids. Determination of concentrations above 250µg/kg is possible by applying a higher spiking level and dilution of the sample extract, but this has not been validated in the collaborative trial.

This document is applicable for the determination, by means of one-point standard addition to the sample, of:

• ergocornine in the tested range of 12µg/kg to 221µg/kg;

• ergocorninine in the tested range of 9µg/kg to 196µg/kg;

• ergocristine in the tested range of 14µg/kg to 312µg/kg;

• ergocristinine in the tested range of 12µg/kg to 258µg/kg;

• ?-ergocryptine in the tested range of 10µg/kg to 184µg/kg;

• the sum of ?- and ?-ergocryptinine in the tested range of 8µg/kg to 171µg/kg;

• ergometrine in the tested range of 12µg/kg to 174µg/kg;

• ergometrinine in the tested range of 3µg/kg to 172µg/kg;

• ergosine in the tested range of 12µg/kg to 226µg/kg;

• ergosinine in the tested range of 9µg/kg to 273µg/kg;

• ergotamine in the tested range of 11µg/kg to 443µg/kg;

• ergotaminine in the tested range of 10µg/kg to 273µg/kg;

• atropine in the tested range of 16µg/kg to 252µg/kg;

• scopolamine in the tested range of 15µg/kg to 246µg/kg.