Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Test Catches Steroids In Athletes

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 22:28 in Physics & Chemistry

A new mass spectrometry test can help sports anti-drug doping officials to detect whether an athlete has used drugs that boost naturally occurring steroid levels. The test is more sensitive compared to previous alternatives, more capable of revealing specific suspicious chemical in the body, faster to perform, and could be run on standard drug-screening laboratory equipment. The new test was announced in a special issue of the Journal of Mass Spectrometry that concentrates on detecting drugs in sports. One of the roles of the masculinising hormone testosterone is to increase muscle size and strength. Taking extra testosterone, or taking a chemical that the body can use to create extra testosterone, could therefore enhance an athlete's performance. For this reason taking it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). read more

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