# Fast neonicotinoid quantification in honey using the one-point internal calibration approach

## TL;DR

This study compares two methods for measuring neonicotinoids in honey, finding that a simpler method is just as accurate and faster.

## Contribution

The study introduces a simplified single-point internal calibration method for neonicotinoid analysis in honey.

## Key findings

- Internal calibration showed acceptable trueness (86.3% - 116.0%) and precision (1.4% - 20.8%).
- Both calibration methods showed strong agreement (R2 > 0.998) when applied to 32 honey samples.
- IC reduces analysis time and instrument turnaround compared to traditional methods.

## Abstract

Neonicotinoids, a highly effective class of insecticides used worldwide, have been identified as a major cause of concern for biodiversity. To assess the ecological and environmental consequences of neonicotinoids' use, reliable analytical methodologies, including calibration approaches, are needed. Here, we compared the performance of internal calibration (IC) using a single concentration of stable isotope-labeled standard (SIL) with classical multipoint external calibration (EC) for the quantification of six neonicotinoids in honey. IC showed acceptable levels of trueness (86.3% - 116.0%) and precision (1.4% - 20.8%), although slight biases were observed at very low concentrations compared to EC. When applied to 32 original honey samples, both approaches showed strong agreement (R2 > 0.998) with proportional biases lower than 5%. These results highlight the possibility of implementing IC to simplify quantification in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based pesticide applications.

•Stable isotope-labeled internal standards were used as surrogate calibrants.•The single-point internal calibration (IC) approach was compared with multilevel matrix-matched external calibration.•Trueness and precision of both approaches were comparable.•The method was applied to 32 honey samples from Switzerland.•IC significantly reduces analysis time and instrument turnaround.

Stable isotope-labeled internal standards were used as surrogate calibrants.

The single-point internal calibration (IC) approach was compared with multilevel matrix-matched external calibration.

Trueness and precision of both approaches were comparable.

The method was applied to 32 honey samples from Switzerland.

IC significantly reduces analysis time and instrument turnaround.