Direct detection and quantification of 19-norandrosterone sulfate in human urine by liquid chromatography-linear ion trap mass spectrometry

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2007 Jun 1;852(1-2):491-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2007.02.009. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Abstract

19-Norandrosterone sulfate (19-NAS) is the sulfoconjugated form of 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), the major metabolite of the steroid nandrolone. A sensitive and accurate liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay was developed for the direct measurement of 19-NAS in human urine samples. The method involved a quaternary amine SPE protocol and subsequently injection of the extract onto an analytical column (Uptisphere ODB, 150 mm x 3.0 mm, 5 microm) for chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry detection in negative electrospray ionisation mode. The sulfoconjugate of 19-NA was identified in urine by comparison of mass spectra and retention time with a reference substance. The limit of detection (LOD) and lowest limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 19-NAS were of 40 pg/mL and 200 pg/mL, respectively. For a nominal concentration of 2 ng/mL, recovery (94%), intra-day precision (2.7%), intra-assay precision (6.6%) and inter-assay precision (14.3%) were determined. Finally, this analytical method was applied for quantifying the concentration of 19-NAS in doping samples, using calibration curves (0.2-20 ng/mL) and the standard-addition method. The results show the feasibility of applying this LC-MS/MS assay as a complementary tool to detect misuse of nandrolone or nandrolone precursors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Estranes / urine*
  • Humans
  • Reference Standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Estranes
  • 19-norandrosterone