Tina Suominen, Jeanette von Walden, Laura Harju, Anton Pohanka, Jenny Schulze, Mikael Lehtihet, Lena Ekström
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Dried blood spots (DBS) have emerged as a promising complement, and in some settings, an alternative, to urine for anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) testing, offering advantages such as minimal invasiveness, simplified storage, and transportation. This study evaluated two DBS collection devices-cellulose-based Capitainer-B50 and polymer-based Tasso-M20-and compared results with traditional urine analysis. Ten self-reported AAS users were recruited and provided matched urine and DBS samples. High agreement between the two DBS devices was observed, although Capitainer-B50 showed a slightly greater detection rate, likely due to a higher sample volume (50 μL vs. 17.5 μL) improved analyte recovery, and lower background noise. Notably, DBS enabled detection of testosterone use in all 10 participants, while urine testing missed two cases with naturally low urinary testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratios (most likely UGT2B17 del/del carriers). Moreover, the differentiation between prescribed and illicit use of testosterone esters was also possible in DBS, but not in urine testing, while nandrolone detection in DBS was limited at low concentrations. The findings support DBS as a sensitive and practical tool for AAS detection and provide critical advantages in detecting doping with testosterone esters in individuals with prescribed testosterone therapy and in UGT2B17 deletion carriers.
期刊介绍:
As the incidence of drugs escalates in 21st century living, their detection and analysis have become increasingly important. Sport, the workplace, crime investigation, homeland security, the pharmaceutical industry and the environment are just some of the high profile arenas in which analytical testing has provided an important investigative tool for uncovering the presence of extraneous substances.
In addition to the usual publishing fare of primary research articles, case reports and letters, Drug Testing and Analysis offers a unique combination of; ‘How to’ material such as ‘Tutorials’ and ‘Reviews’, Speculative pieces (‘Commentaries’ and ‘Perspectives'', providing a broader scientific and social context to the aspects of analytical testing), ‘Annual banned substance reviews’ (delivering a critical evaluation of the methods used in the characterization of established and newly outlawed compounds).
Rather than focus on the application of a single technique, Drug Testing and Analysis employs a unique multidisciplinary approach to the field of controversial compound determination. Papers discussing chromatography, mass spectrometry, immunological approaches, 1D/2D gel electrophoresis, to name just a few select methods, are welcomed where their application is related to any of the six key topics listed below.