CERA Detection and Stability in Blood Versus Urine
Salamin et al.
The finding, in our words
CERA showed greater stability and detectability in serum and dried blood spots than in urine after incubation at 37°C for 72 hours. Dried blood spots provided a minimally invasive, temperature-resistant matrix for anti-doping programmes, and haematological profiling guided targeted testing.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
This review highlights that microsampling techniques such as dried blood spots and volumetric absorptive microsampling offer superior alternatives to traditional sampling for the mass spectrometry detection of prohibited substances in anti-doping analysis. It provides guidance on selecting appropriate analytical methods and sample pretreatment strategies to ensure sensitive detection and reliable storage conditions.
Maykar et al., Critical reviews in analytical chemistry (paywalled) · source ↗
Blood-based matrices such as serum and dried blood spots offer direct access to circulating analytes, overcoming key detection limitations of traditional urine testing for agents like erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs and peptide hormones. Capillary microsampling technologies provide simplified collection workflows that support the expansion of multi-matrix anti-doping and biological passport programmes.
The authors found that a single microdose of recombinant EPO was detectable up to 72 hours using ITP and CP methods, though the Tasso microsampling device showed lower sensitivity than Mitra and Capitainer. Additionally, isotope ratio mass spectrometry successfully detected testosterone micro-dosing in all analysed samples, supported by serum testosterone levels.
Heiland et al., Drug testing and analysis · source ↗
The review summarises 2017–2023 advances in measuring proteins from dried matrix spots by LC-MS, including blood, urine and other fluids. It describes ‘smart sampling’ that embeds cell separation, digestion and antibody capture into the collection step, which streamlines decentralised proteomic workflows.
Reubsaet & Halvorsen, Journal of separation science · source ↗
This narrative review evaluates microsampling devices for therapeutic drug monitoring, concluding that techniques such as volumetric absorptive microsampling and dried blood spots offer reliable, less invasive alternatives to venous sampling when paired with high-sensitivity mass spectrometry, which supports implementation in routine clinical practice.