To develop a screening and confirmation method of UPLC-LTQ Orbitrap MS for 48chemical medicine including fluoroquinolone, sulfanilamide, tetracycline, malachite green, nitrofuran, olaquindox and carbadox mixed into traditional Chinese herbal medicine for fishery.MethodsThe samples were extracted by ethyl acetate, cleaned by C₁₈ sorbent, separated by reversed phase chromatography(Velocity:250μl/min, Cylinder temperature:30℃, Sample size:10μl), and gradient eluted with methanol/water (containing 0.1% formic acid). Final detection was performed by LTQ Orbitrap MS in full scanning mode. The TOXID software combined with database retrieval was used for screening and confirmation of 48veterinary drugs. ResultsThe limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) of 48veterinary drugs were 0.0060-0.21mg/kg and 0.020-0.72mg/kg, respectively. The method showed good linearity over the linear range, r²=0.9796-0.9997. The recoveries were 81.9%-114.4%, 84.0%-114.3%, 80.9%-114.8% for the three spiked levels at 0.25,0.50and 1.0mg/kg, respectively. The RSDs were in the range of 1.56%-14.3%.ConclusionThe method was rapid, accurate, reliable and precise. It was suitable for the screening and confirmation of chemical medicine adulterated into traditional Chinese herbal medicine.