An improved method for analysis of cholecalciferol-treated baits

A liquid extraction method is described that permits rapid determination of cholecalciferol (D-3) in rodenticidal grain baits. Purified D3 was incubat ed for various time periods to produce pre-D-3. Response ratios (concentrat ion/detector response) for various concentrations of pre-Da and Dg in solut ions permitted generation of a correction factor for direct quantitation of pre-D-3 in solutions with a pure Dg standard. The method has equal precisi on and accuracy, yet is simpler and less time consuming and requires less s olvents than widely accepted methods for extracting DQ from grain baits. Re coveries from control oat baits fortified at 0.05 and 0.75 wt % were 100.9 and 98%, respectively. A standard curve for concentrations ranging from 6.4 to 204 mu g/mL had an r(2) of 0.9999 and an intercept of zero and was line ar and proportional. The (-4) wt % D-3.