Data from a microdosed recombinant human erythropoietin administration study applying the new biotinylated clone AE7A5 antibody and a further optimized sarcosyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protocol. Issue 2 (21st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reichel, Christian; Erceg, Damir; Lorenc, Barbara; Scheiblhofer, Veronika; Farmer, Letizia; Zanitzer, Katharina; Geisendorfer, Thomas; Gmeiner, Günter; Thevis, Mario
• Is Part Of: Drug testing and analysis. Volume 15:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 163
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2021-01-21
• Subjects: doping control -- epoetin zeta -- erythropoietin -- microdosis -- SAR‐PAGE; Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Drug testing -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; 615.1901
• DOI: 10.1002/dta.2989
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1942-7603

Abstract

Abstract: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone, which stimulates the production of red blood cells. Due to its performance‐enhancing effect, it is prohibited by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA). In order to reduce the detection window of EPO doping, athletes have been applying low doses of recombinant EPO (e.g., <10 IU/kg body weight, daily or every second day) instead of larger doses twice or more per week (e.g., 30 IU/kg). Microdoses of Retacrit ( epoetin zeta ), an EPO biosimilar, were administered intravenously and subcutaneously to human males and females. Urine and serum samples were collected and analysed applying the new biotinylated clone AE7A5 EPO antibody and a further optimized sarcosyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SAR‐PAGE) protocol. With the improved protocol, microdosed Retacrit (7.5 IU/kg body weight [BW]) was detectable for at least 52 h after intravenous administration. Detection windows were approximately the same for serum and urine and doubled after subcutaneous administration (~104 h). Previous studies applying different electrophoretic techniques and the not further optimized SAR‐PAGE protocol revealed considerably shorter detection windows for recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) microdoses. Because the new biotinylated antibody performed significantly more sensitive than the nonbiotinylated version, the new protocol will improve the sensitivity and hence detectability of recombinant EPO in doping control. Abstract : Very low microdoses of Retacrit ( epoetin zeta ) were administered intravenously and subcutaneously to human males and females. Urine and serum samples were collected and analysed applying the new biotinylated clone AE7A5 EPO antibody and a further optimized SAR‐PAGE protocol. With the improved protocol, microdosed Retacrit (7.5 IU/kg BW) was detectable for at least 52 h after intravenous administration. Detection windows were the approximately the same for serum and urine and doubled after subcutaneous administration.