title: Detection of tetracosactide in plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
abstract: As a synthetic analogue of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), tetracosactide is prohibited in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method is proposed for detection of this drug in plasma. Since its structure corresponds to the 24 N-terminal of the 39 amino acids of the natural endogenous peptide ACTH, tetracosactide can be detected with a commercial ELISA kit for ACTH that uses antibodies, the epitopes of which are located in the 1-24 part of ACTH. However, an essential condition for detection specificity is the preliminary total clearance of endogenous ACTH in the plasma samples. This is achieved by a preparative step based on cation-exchange chromatography before ELISA. The method is specific and sensitive (LOD: 30 pg/mL) and may be used as a screening analysis in anti-doping control. The pre-analytical conditions are shown to be of the upmost importance and recommendations for blood collection (EDTA tubes), sample transport (4 °C) and plasma sample storage (-20 °C) are presented.
authors.affiliation: Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage, Département des Analyses, 143 avenue Roger Salengro, Châtenay-Malabry, 92290, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage, Département des Analyses, 143 avenue Roger Salengro, Châtenay-Malabry, 92290, France.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaabo
authors.affiliation: Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage, Département des Analyses, 143 avenue Roger Salengro, Châtenay-Malabry, 92290, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lasne
mesh_terms: D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D003366:Cosyntropin
keywords: ELISA; doping; sport; synacthen; tetracosactide