[GC-MS analysis of norethandrolone and its metabolites in man]

Steroids in human urine were adsorbed on a macroporous XAD-2 resin, eluted with methanol, hydrolyzed with glucuronidase, extracted and concentrated for TMS derivatization and then analyzed with GC-MS. Norethandrolone (N) and its 9 metabolites were detected in urine samples 9-35 h after oral administration. Met-2 and Met-7 could be detected even in 84 h urine sample. The structures of 7 metabolites were elucidated and the variations of their concentration in urine were determined. The specific metabolites and characteristic ions for screening N positive urine were chosen. This method is sensitive enough; the detection limit of N was 10 ng per ml urine, i.e. 10 ppb.