Evaluating the Testosterone-to-Luteinizing Hormone Ratio in Male Anti-Doping Serum Samples: Results From a Transdermal Testosterone Administration Trial and Field Collected Samples.
Jenna M Goodrum, Vinod S Nair, Andre K Crouch, Daniel Eichner, Geoffrey D Miller
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The serum testosterone-to-luteinizing hormone (T/LH) ratio has previously been suggested as a sensitive marker of testosterone use in an anti-doping setting. When measured with an automated immunoassay platform, this ratio represents a quick and cost-effective screening biomarker to further direct isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) testing efforts in concurrently collected urine samples to confirm testosterone abuse. To evaluate the practicality of implementing the serum T/LH ratio for routine use, testosterone values in 356 serum samples were compared between a "gold-standard" LC-MS/MS method and an automated immunoassay method. Excellent correlation and minimal bias between the two methods were observed, highlighting the validity of the immunoassay method. Next, a testosterone administration study utilizing a transdermal delivery route was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the serum T/LH ratio to the currently used serum testosterone to androstenedione (T/A4) and urinary testosterone to epitestosterone (T/E) ratios. The serum T/LH ratio was more sensitive than the T/A4 ratio and showed similar sensitivity to the urinary T/E ratio with high interindividual variability. Finally, T/LH analysis was conducted on 626 capillary serum samples collected in the field from male Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes. Of the three samples that showed elevated T/LH ratios in this pool, two of the corresponding urine samples were IRMS positive, one of which showed an unremarkable urinary T/E ratio and relatively normal steroid profile. These results indicate serum T/LH ratio monitoring provides a beneficial addition to the anti-doping tool kit and can improve urinary IRMS testing recommendations.
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.
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