Detection of boldenone and its major metabolites by liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry in urine samples

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 552; no. 1; pp. 116 - 126
• Main Authors: Buiarelli, F., Cartoni, G.P., Coccioli, F., Giannetti, L., Merolle, M., Neri, B., Terracciano, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 03-11-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Boldenone metabolites; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Conjugated boldenone; Exact sciences and technology; Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; Other chromatographic methods; Spectrometric and optical methods; Urine; Urine; Boldenone metabolites; Conjugated boldenone; Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry; Performance evaluation; Human; Steroid; Solid phase extraction; Metabolite; HPLC chromatography; Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; Liquid chromatography; Chemical enrichment; Meat; Detection limit; Linearity; Mass spectrometry MS/MS; Monitoring; Atomic absorption spectrometry
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2005.06.071

Boldenone is an androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) intensively used for growth promoting purposes in animals destined for meat production and as a performance enhancer in athletics. Therefore its use is officially banned either in animals intended for consumption or in humans. Because most anabolic steroids are completely metabolized and usually no parent steroid is excreted, metabolite identification is crucial to detect the illegal use of anabolic steroids either in humans or in livestock.
The aim of this work is the investigation of 17β-boldenone and its main metabolites, 17β-sulphate, 17β-glucuronide, 5β-androst-1-en-17β-ol-3-one and 17α-boldenone, in human and bovine urine developing a multiresidue analysis.
After solid phase extraction of urine samples, detection is carried out by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring. The average recovery for all the investigated compounds is above 70%. The developed method is very easy, quick and highly specific. Linearity, precision, decision limit and detection capability were also evaluated.