Title:Rapid Identification of 44 Steroids in Human Urine Samples using HPLCESI-
QTOF-MS
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Aarti Yadav and Rajesh Dabur *
Affiliation:
- Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001,
Haryana, India
Keywords:
Steroids, Urine, HPLC, Q-TOF-MS, qualitative analysis, qualitative detection, ionization method.
Abstract:
Objectives: Detailed analysis of un-processed and un-derivatized free and conjugated
urinary steroids is useful to avoid miscalculations and to diagnose sports doping and adrenal
problems, including abnormal steroidogenesis, congenital deficiency of related enzymes, cancer,
and other disease conditions. Hence, the present study was conducted to develop a soft ionization
method to identify the maximum number of urinary steroids using ultra-performance liquid
chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (HPLC–Q-TOF-MS).
Materials and Methods: HPLC–Q-TOF-MS was carried out for the qualitative detection of steroids
and their conjugates in urine samples. The method provides high sensitivity and fast analysis of
steroids and their glucuronides without hydrolysis or sample preparation or extraction of steroids.
Results: Using the method, 44 steroids belonging to C-18, C-19, and C-21 classes and their conjugates
were resolved and identified using positive and negative modes of ionizations by their
characteristic ionization and collision energy induced dissociation behaviors.
Conclusion: The method is time-saving and good to compare samples from different peoples
with control or healthy ones as it does not require any kind of pre-treatment or sample processing.
It provides a complete picture of steroids metabolism and catabolism. It can be good for doping
control or to explore the effects of other drugs. However, in qualitative analysis, one may miss
the significant information unless direct methods of steroids analysis to be employed.
