Hydropyrolysis, a geochemical technique used to trace and determine possible oil presence in the ocean bed, is now being developed to be used for steroid anti-doping tests. This process, used to identify chemical structures, is recently being developed and in the process of being refined by a group of researchers from the University of Nottingham. This extraction technique can be used to obtain less tainted urine samples of athletes to detect any use of illicit steroids. It can also be used in steroid testing in racehorses. The sample is subjected to extreme temperature reaching as high as 500 degrees Celsius and extreme pressures of hydrogen usually reaching 150 atmospheres.
According to Professor Snape of the Department of Chemical Technology and Chemical Engineering, measurements to detect illicit steroids is obtained by getting the carbon 12 / carbon 13 ratio of the body. A more refined sample will result to more accurate results that will manifest changes in the carbon ratio.
This study was conducted by the university together with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to develop a more refined technique. They are planning to utilize this test for the 2012 Olympics. They are also working a partnership with Strata Technology in London to provide them with high pressure equipment.
According to Medical News Today:
Colin Snape, Professor of Chemical Technology and Chemical Engineering at the University, said: “Steroids are produced naturally in the body, but they have a different carbon 13/carbon 12 ratios to those that have been introduced illicitly. By refining the measurements of these two isotopes we can produce a very accurate test for the presence of illegal steroids in athletes.
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