title: Analysis of conjugated steroid androgens: deconjugation, derivatisation and associated issues.
abstract: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is the preferred technique for the detection of urinary steroid androgens for drug testing in athletics. Excreted in either the glucuronide or sulfated conjugated form, steroids must first undergo deconjugation followed by derivatisation to render them suitable for GC analysis. Discussed herein are the deconjugation and the derivatisation preparative options. The analytical challenges surrounding these preparatory approaches, in particular the inability to cleave the sulfate moiety have led to a focus on testing protocols that reply on glucuronide conjugates. Other approaches which alleviate the need for deconjugation and derivatisation are also highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK. rachel.gomes00@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: Colin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Snape
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sephton
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004300:Doping in Sports; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D020719:Glucuronides; D013256:Steroids; D013431:Sulfates