Stabilization of human urine doping control samples: a current opinion.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Doping control urine samples are transported at ambient temperatures, risking microbial contamination and degradation.
• Current collection methods lack stabilization, potentially compromising sample integrity and leading to misinterpretation of doping test results.
• Intentional contamination with proteolytic enzymes to mask prohibited substances like EPO is a known threat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate degradation and stabilization of sports urine samples against microbial and enzymatic threats.
• To develop and evaluate a stabilization method for urine samples used in anti-doping.
• To ensure the integrity of doping control samples during transport and storage.

Main Methods:

• Extensive method development to create a chemical mixture for urine stabilization.
• Evaluation of the stabilization mixture's efficacy under various experimental conditions.
• Testing the stabilization of endogenous steroids, recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Main Results:

• A novel mixture of chemical agents was successfully developed for urine stabilization.
• The stabilization mixture demonstrated effectiveness in preserving sample integrity across a wide range of tested conditions.
• The mixture successfully stabilized key analytes including endogenous steroids, recombinant EPO, and hCG.

Conclusions:

• A stabilization method is crucial for protecting sports urine samples from degradation and contamination.
• The developed chemical mixture offers a promising solution for stabilizing doping control samples.
• This stabilization approach can enhance the reliability of anti-doping analysis and prevent misinterpretation of results.