Analysis of human reticulocyte genes reveals altered erythropoiesis: potential use to detect recombinant human erythropoietin doping.

Background And Objectives: Enhancement of oxygen delivery to tissues is associated with improved sporting performance. One way of enhancing oxygen delivery is to take recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo), which is an unethical and potentially dangerous practice. However, detection of the use of rHuEpo remains difficult in situations such as: i) several days after the end of treatment ii) when a treatment with low doses is conducted iii) if the rHuEpo effect is increased by other substances.

Strengths and weaknesses of established indirect models to detect recombinant human erythropoietin abuse on blood samples collected 48-hr post administration.

We studied indirect detection models of erythropoietin abuse (EPO) on blood samples collected 48-hr after administration of the drug during 6 weeks of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment. Although the efficiency of OFF-models was preserved, we found a loss of sensitivity of ON-models. This study also revealed an increased percentage of stomatocytes in athletes receiving rHuEPO

Detection of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers in human serum for doping analysis: confirmation by size-exclusion HPLC.

Background: Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are being developed as potential substitutes for the oxygen-carrying functions of erythrocytes, but athletes may obtain and experiment with HBOCs as an illicit means of enhancing oxygen transport. An electrophoretic technique has been developed to screen for the presence of HBOCs in blood samples (Lasne et al. Clin Chem 2004;50:410-5).