LC/MS/MS system screens racehorse urine and blood specimens for prohibited substances used to influence the outcome of races in southern Africa
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) is using the Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex Q Trap LC/MS/MS system to screen racehorse urine and blood specimens for prohibited substances used to influence the outcome of races.
These substances include an ever-changing variety of drug entities and drug preparations, from small drug molecules to large protein hormones, all of which can differ significantly in their extraction and detection requirements.
Schalk de Kock, director of the laboratory, explained: "The Q Trap system is an excellent technique for drug screening because of the complex sample matrices being analysed.
"It makes the extraction methodologies less time consuming and more cost effective, and is both sensitive and specific enough to accurately identify very low levels of substances.
"The design of the ionisation interface makes it possible to analyse specimens with a higher than conventional background, without deterioration in data quality or of the instrument.
"Another hugely advantageous feature is its ability to screen for large numbers of drugs in a single analysis, even when those drugs are closely related compounds.
"Overall, the Q Trap system is a highly versatile instrument ideal for sensitive qualitative screening, qualitative and quantitative drug confirmation and research into new drug metabolism."
