Gas chromatography/combustion/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry analysis of urinary steroids to detect misuse of testosterone in sport

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 1994 Apr;8(4):304-8. doi: 10.1002/rcm.1290080404.

Abstract

We propose a new confirmatory method for testosterone doping in sport. The present method in use, based on measuring the testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio in urine, may miss suspicious cases, or lead to reporting cases in which the high ratio is natural. Synthetic testosterone has a 13C abundance different from that of endogenous human testosterone. The connection of a gas chromatograph to an isotope-ratio mass spectrometer via a combustion interface allows the measurement of the corresponding characteristic value (delta /1000) for testosterone, its precursors, and its metabolites. To detect exogenous administration of testosterone, 30-40 mL of urine is sufficient.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Cholesterol / urine
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / urine
  • Doping in Sports*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Male
  • Steroids / urine*
  • Substance Abuse Detection
  • Testosterone / urine*

Substances

  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Steroids
  • Testosterone
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone
  • Cholesterol