HPLC Analysis of Oxytetracycline Residues in Honey

Abstract
Oxytetracycline (OTC), also known commercially as Terramycin, was determined to be more stable in honey than in buffered aqueous solutions at similar pH values and temperatures. A rapid high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to detect and quantitate OTC using a 1:1 dilution (wt/wt) of honey samples in water. Using 355 nm as the wavelength of detection, amounts as low as 0.5 μg/ml could be detected in the above solution. The limits of detection were lowered considerably by a double extraction procedure.