Advanced LC-MS/MS Method Boosts Peptide Hormone Doping Detection

The misuse of peptide hormones, such as growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), remains a significant challenge in sports, as athletes seek performance enhancement. Detecting these potent, often low-concentration substances in biological samples is complex due to their structural similarity to naturally occurring compounds and rapid metabolism. Developing highly sensitive, specific, and robust analytical methods is paramount to effectively combat doping and uphold fair competition.

The developed LC-MS/MS method demonstrated exceptional analytical performance for the detection and quantification of various peptide hormones. The method achieved an impressive limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.08 ng/mL for IGF-1 and 0.4 ng/mL for GH, representing a 6-fold improvement in sensitivity compared to previous standard techniques. Specificity was remarkably high at 99.2%, with negligible interference from endogenous compounds or common medications, and excellent linearity was observed over a 4-order of magnitude concentration range (R² > 0.995). Recovery rates for target peptides consistently ranged from 78% to 96% across different concentrations, with inter-day precision below 8% relative standard deviation, indicating robust and reproducible performance.