New Method of Doping Detection Developed by Austrian Scientists February 7
A new method for testing and detecting doping erythropoietin (EPO), which is more convenient, accurate and more quickly to provide results in comparison with other detection methods has been developed by Austrian scientists. EPO can promote the formation of oxygen in the muscles causing them to become more powerful and work for longer spans of time which drastically increases the endurance of athletes who use it. Unfortunately EPO is virtually identical to erythropoietin naturally found in the body and quickly disappears after injection. This makes it hard to detect in standard testing methods.
Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA), which is the third generation of EPO, is even harder to detect than the original EPO. Four blood and urine samples are required to definitively prove that the doping agent is present in the body of those who use it. Expert of Austrian Seibersdorf Laboratories Christian Reichel said in an article published in the journal Drug Testing and Analyses that the recently developed approach reduced that number to a single blood test to determine whether people had used EPO, CERA, or other ingredients containing EPO doping. While the method holds promise and could do a great deal to improve the odds of preventing such abuse it still needs to undergo large scale physical testing before it can be approved for use, a process that could take 6 months to complete.
Tags: austrian, CERA, detection methods, doping, drig testing, EPO, erythropoietin