title: Analysis of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): application of routine immunological methods for initial testing and confirmation analysis in doping control.
abstract: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is dimeric glycoprotein produced by placenta in pregnancy and also in low levels by pituitary gland. The main clinical use for exogenous hCG-administration is typically linked to infertility. The desired effect of hCG misuse in sport is due to the enhancement of testicular production of testosterone. Therefore, hCG is listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as a prohibited substance in male athletes and according to the recently published WADA guideline urinary concentrations of hCG > 5 IU/L may be an indicator of doping. In this study two independent immunoassays were used to implement the new WADA guideline. The assay for initial testing (Siemens Immulite 2000 XPi hCG assay) recognizes various hCG variants (e.g. hCG and β-core fragment of hCG) whereas the confirmatory assay (PerkinElmer DELFIA Xpress hCG) is sensitive to intact and nicked hCG only. Both assays showed adequate sensitivity and were proven fit-for-purpose in routine doping control. Population-based distribution of the assays was in good agreement with results of earlier studies and supported well the current threshold of 5 IU/L.
authors.affiliation: Doping Control Laboratory, United Medix Laboratories, Höyläämötie 14, 00380, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuuranne
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pussinen
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leinonen
mesh_terms: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000652:urine*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000652:urine; D004300:Doping in Sports; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000652:urine; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C063554:urinary gonadotropin fragment
keywords: doping control; hCG; human chorionic gonadotropin; immunoassays