Cationic exchange SPE combined with triple quadrupole UHPLC-MS/MS for detection of GHRHs in urine samples.
Cristea. Cătălina-Diana CD; Radu. Mihai M; Toboc. Ani A; Stan. Cristina C; David. Victor V
Key Findings
- A new SPE‑UHPLC‑MS/MS method can detect GHRHs in urine down to 0.2 ng/mL (LOD) and reliably quantify from 0.6 ng/mL (LOQ).
- The method was validated for selectivity, carry‑over, stability, and recovery according to WADA guidelines.
- It works for several GHRHs including tesamorelin, CJC‑1295, and both forms of sermorelin (GRF‑1‑29 and 3‑29‑NH₂).
Practical Outcomes
- The main takeaway is that anti‑doping labs now have a highly sensitive tool to catch even micro‑doses of GRF‑1‑29. Biohackers should be aware that low‑dose or occasional use could still be detected, so any self‑experimentation carries a risk of a positive test if subject to doping control.
Summary
Scientists created a very sensitive urine test that can spot tiny amounts of growth‑hormone‑releasing peptides like sermorelin (GRF‑1‑29). It can detect as little as 0.2 ng/mL, which is far lower than most everyday tests, and it meets anti‑doping standards. For biohackers, this means the test can catch even low‑dose use, but the study doesn’t give any new tips on how to use the peptide safely or effectively.
Abstract
The use of growth hormone-releasing hormones (GHRHs) is prohibited in sports according to the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Considering the complexity of urine samples and the low concentrations at which these analytes should be detected, analyzing GHRHs is a challenging task. In most of the studies, GHRHs are analyzed using UHPLC-HRMS with an orbitrap. The present developed and validated method for some GHRHs (tesamorelin, CJC-1295, sermorelin (GRF 1-29), sermorelin (3-29)-NH<sub>2</sub>, somatorelin) is based on the triple quadrupole UHPLC/MS-MS method with solid phase extraction (SPE) with weak cation exchange and is able to detect concentrations as low as 0.2 ng/mL (LOD), a limit of quantification (LOQ) at 0.6 ng/mL, and linearity across the range of 0.1 ng/mL to 1.2 ng/mL. The present method developed by our doping control laboratory was validated according to WADA technical documents for selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), carryover, reliability of detection, stability and recovery. The results show that the method has adequate recoveries and sensitivity, hence, it can be employed for routine screening in anti-doping laboratories.
Study Information
pubmed
2023
2023-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.ab.2023.115336
2
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