title: Validation of a screening method for corticosteroids in doping analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
abstract: A selective and sensitive method for the screening of nine corticosteroids in human urine has been validated. Analyses were performed using an ion trap instrument equipped with an electrospray ionisation (ESI) interface. All corticosteroids were separated in less than 20 min after liquid/liquid extraction with diethyl ether. The limit of detection for all substances was 4 ng/mL or lower. The method was applied to detect betamethasone after the intramuscular injection of Diprophos. Betamethasone could be detected for up to 12 days after administration. Validation of the chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric identification of mixtures of betamethasone and dexamethasone are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Doping Control Laboratory, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deventer
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Delbeke
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004300:Doping in Sports; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones