Probing for the presence of doping agents in exhaled breath using chromatographic/mass spectrometric approaches

Exhaled breath (EB) has been demonstrated to be a promising alternative matrix in sports drug testing due to its non-invasive and non-intrusive nature compared with urine and blood collection protocols. In this study, a pilot-test system was employed to create drug-containing aerosols simulating EB in support of the analytical characterization of EB sampling procedures, and the used analytical method was extended to include a broad spectrum of prohibited substances.

Artificial and authentic EB samples were collected using sampling devices containing an electret filter, and doping agents were detected by means of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with unispray ionization. The analytical approach was characterized with regard to specificity, limits of detection, carry-over, recovery and matrix effects, and the potential applicability to routine doping controls was shown using authentic EB samples collected after single oral dose applications of glucocorticoids and stimulants.

The analytical method was found to be specific for a total of 49 model substances relevant in sports drug testing, with detection limits ranging from 1 to 500 pg per cartridge. Both ion suppression (-62%) and ion enhancement (+301%) effects were observed, and all model compounds applied to EB sampling devices were still detected after 28 days of storage at room temperature. Authentic EB samples collected after the oral administration of 10 mg of prednisolone resulted in prednisolone findings in specimens obtained from 3 out of 6 participants up to 2 h. In octodrine, dimethylamylamine (DMAA) and isopropylnorsynephrine post-administration EB samples, the drugs were detected over a period of 50, 48, and 8 h, respectively.

With the analytical approach developed within this study, the identification of a broad spectrum of prohibited doping agents in EB samples was accomplished. Application studies and stability tests provided information to characterize EB as a potential matrix in sports drug testing.