Abstract: Objective To establish a high throughput and rapid screening method for illegally added chemicals in Chinese patent medicine and health products by LC -MS/MS. Methods The sample was separated on ZORBAX XDB-C18 column and the mobile phase was acetonitrile consisted of 1mM ammonium acetate(0.1% formic acid). Through an information-dependent acquisition(IDA) mode of mass spectrometry in ESI+, illegally added chemicals in Chinese patent medicines and health products could be automatically searched by spectra library. Results Illegally added chemicals such as hypoglycemic drugs, sedative-hypnotic drug, antipyretic analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs could be detected in 18 min through quick screening. Conclusion The method we found was simple, rapid, high throughput and precise for the qualitative analysis of illegally added chemicals in Chinese patent medicines and health products.

Key words: LC-MS/MS, high throughput and rapid screening, illegally added chemicals, Chinese patent medicines, health products