Achieving routine application of dried blood spots for erythropoietin receptor agonist analysis in doping control: low-volume single-spot detection at minimum required performance level.

Erythropoietin receptor agonists (ERAs) are substances prohibited in sports and currently monitored in urine and blood. There is a great interest in new matrices like dried blood spots (DBSs). A direct method for the detection of ERAs in DBSs using one single spot of 25 μl has been optimized and validated. Limits of detection close or equal to those required by the World Anti-Doping Agency for serum/plasma samples were achieved, using a volume 20-times lower. All analytes were stable for at least 90 days at room temperature. Method performance was comparable to the requirements established for blood samples and, thus, monitoring of ERAs is reliable in DBSs in the context of doping control.