New reference materials to improve stilbene detection

LGC Standards, Europe’s leading supplier of reference materials, has introduced two new reference materials for stilbenes in bovine urine, expanding further its range from the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM).

Collectively known as stilbenes, diethylstilbestrol (DES), hexestrol (HEX) and dienestrol (DE) are oestrogenic hormones that are prohibited worldwide for use in food-producing livestock. Their use as growth promoting agents in veal and calf production is banned and the compounds form part of the national sampling and monitoring plans as stipulated by European legislation (Council Directive 96/23/EC).

Available from LGC Standards, the two reference materials comprising ERM-BB389 (DES, DE, HEX in bovine urine) and ERM-BB386 (stilbene blank material) are preparations of new materials to replace the stilbene-containing CRMs BCR-389 (DES), BCR-390 (DE), and BCR-391 (HEX) and the respective blank materials BCR-386, BCR-387, BCR-388.

Stilbene concentrations have been lowered from 13 - 34 µg/kg in the previous materials to 1 - 6 µg/kg per substance in the new CRMs, thereby providing improved confidence in the high sensitivity detection of these banned substances. In addition, the new unit size allows for more replicates per unit to be taken.

These new, improved reference materials are intended to be used for method validation purposes (trueness estimation) and method performance control. The certified value for ERM-BB389 amounts to 1.1 ± 0.5 μg/kg (DES),  5.5 ± 1.4 μg/kg (DE),  6.1 ± 0.9 μg/kg (HEX) and is based on an inter-laboratory characterisation study; the uncertainty value contains contributions from the characterisation study, and the homogeneity and stability assessment. The values are traceable to the International System of Units (SI) and the materials have been processed and certified in accordance to ISO Guides 34 and 35.

For further information on these new stilbene reference materials, contact your local LGC Standards sales office, or email: askus@lgcstandards.com. Customers within the UK can place an order through the LGC webshop.