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Drug-testing in Calgary
trendsin anaiyticalchemiswy, vol. 7, no. 5, 1988 E
II
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in the
news New chair in analytical chemistry at Strathclyde University _ An award of f 125 000 from Philips Scientific has enabled Strathclyde University to establish a professorship in analytical chemistry. This endowment, spread over five years, confirms Strathclyde’s commitment in a field where skills shortage in Britain is reaching crisis point. The endowment also strengthens Strathclyde’s long-standing links with the Cambridge-based company which already supports basic research at the University through CASE awards, a fellowship, and
through the loan and donation of scientific and analytical instrumentation. The most recent result of that collaboration was the development by the University of the furnace autoprobe which forms a key part of the Philips PU4900 series of atomic absorption spectrometers launched last year. The probe allows elemental analysis at greater levels of sensitivity than previously possible, and can cope with many complex sample matrices. ‘Strathclyde has considerable expertise in analytical chemistry, par-
Drug-testing in Calgary For the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada, $ 1.5 million worth of analytical equipment was installed at the Foothills Hospital Medical Control Laboratory, one of 21 labs around the world accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for drug testing. Samples from some 450 of the 1500 competitors were analysed. Fifteen HP GC-MS and LC-MS systems, seven of which were loaned by Hewlett-Packard for the occasion, were used for this task. All medal winners and at least one other randomly-selected participant in each event are tested. Each must provide a urine sample within 1 h of competing, and each sample is divided into two aliquots so that one may be held for a second confirmatory test should the first prove positive. This huge undertaking has been described by Dr. Robert Baynton, chairman of Medical Laboratory Services for the XV Winter Olympic games, as the most comprehensive
drug-testing process in the history of the Games. Drug testing has been a regular feature of the Olympic Games since 1968, when the IOC first issued a list of banned substances. Over the past twenty years, this list has grown as new drugs are invented and new methods developed for detecting and identifying them. Five classes of drugs have been banned at the 1988 Winter Games: stimulants, including high levels of caffeine, anabolic narcotics, steroids, /3-blockers, and diuretics, which may be used to dilute urine and thus reduce other banned substances below detectable levels. This is the first time in Olympic history that athletes have been screened for P-blockers and diuretics. GC-MS and LC-MS methods are generally accepted by sports authorities as the most accurate means of testing for drug abuse among athletes. The IOC specifies mass spectrometry for final confirmation of
ticularly in the field of elemental analysis’, said Len Morris, development manager. ‘The new chair recognises the fact and will undoubtedly help the University to carry out that important work in the years ahead.’ ‘We also see it as a fitting tribute to the late Professor John Ottaway of Strathclyde who worked closely with us and was a great believer in co-operation with industry.’ The chair will be taken up in October this year at the same time as the first students enter a new degree at Strathclyde, introduced by the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The Bachelor of Science in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry is the only course of its kind in Western Europe.
positive results because of the method’s proven sensitivity (detection limit, 1 ppb). Accuracy and reliability of results are crucial, and the IOC is providing control samples throughout the Games to ensure consistency with the methodology. The Summer Olympics in Seoul will be a much larger screening enterprise, with around 9000 competitors (six times the number of those at the Winter Games) as well as the horses competing in equestrian events.
Reprints We can supply reprints of any article in TrAC at very reasonable rates, (minimum order 100). Please apply for details to: TrAC Editorial Office P.O. Box 330 1000 AH Amsterdam The Netherlands
II
.
in the
news New chair in analytical chemistry at Strathclyde University _ An award of f 125 000 from Philips Scientific has enabled Strathclyde University to establish a professorship in analytical chemistry. This endowment, spread over five years, confirms Strathclyde’s commitment in a field where skills shortage in Britain is reaching crisis point. The endowment also strengthens Strathclyde’s long-standing links with the Cambridge-based company which already supports basic research at the University through CASE awards, a fellowship, and
through the loan and donation of scientific and analytical instrumentation. The most recent result of that collaboration was the development by the University of the furnace autoprobe which forms a key part of the Philips PU4900 series of atomic absorption spectrometers launched last year. The probe allows elemental analysis at greater levels of sensitivity than previously possible, and can cope with many complex sample matrices. ‘Strathclyde has considerable expertise in analytical chemistry, par-
Drug-testing in Calgary For the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada, $ 1.5 million worth of analytical equipment was installed at the Foothills Hospital Medical Control Laboratory, one of 21 labs around the world accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for drug testing. Samples from some 450 of the 1500 competitors were analysed. Fifteen HP GC-MS and LC-MS systems, seven of which were loaned by Hewlett-Packard for the occasion, were used for this task. All medal winners and at least one other randomly-selected participant in each event are tested. Each must provide a urine sample within 1 h of competing, and each sample is divided into two aliquots so that one may be held for a second confirmatory test should the first prove positive. This huge undertaking has been described by Dr. Robert Baynton, chairman of Medical Laboratory Services for the XV Winter Olympic games, as the most comprehensive
drug-testing process in the history of the Games. Drug testing has been a regular feature of the Olympic Games since 1968, when the IOC first issued a list of banned substances. Over the past twenty years, this list has grown as new drugs are invented and new methods developed for detecting and identifying them. Five classes of drugs have been banned at the 1988 Winter Games: stimulants, including high levels of caffeine, anabolic narcotics, steroids, /3-blockers, and diuretics, which may be used to dilute urine and thus reduce other banned substances below detectable levels. This is the first time in Olympic history that athletes have been screened for P-blockers and diuretics. GC-MS and LC-MS methods are generally accepted by sports authorities as the most accurate means of testing for drug abuse among athletes. The IOC specifies mass spectrometry for final confirmation of
ticularly in the field of elemental analysis’, said Len Morris, development manager. ‘The new chair recognises the fact and will undoubtedly help the University to carry out that important work in the years ahead.’ ‘We also see it as a fitting tribute to the late Professor John Ottaway of Strathclyde who worked closely with us and was a great believer in co-operation with industry.’ The chair will be taken up in October this year at the same time as the first students enter a new degree at Strathclyde, introduced by the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The Bachelor of Science in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry is the only course of its kind in Western Europe.
positive results because of the method’s proven sensitivity (detection limit, 1 ppb). Accuracy and reliability of results are crucial, and the IOC is providing control samples throughout the Games to ensure consistency with the methodology. The Summer Olympics in Seoul will be a much larger screening enterprise, with around 9000 competitors (six times the number of those at the Winter Games) as well as the horses competing in equestrian events.
Reprints We can supply reprints of any article in TrAC at very reasonable rates, (minimum order 100). Please apply for details to: TrAC Editorial Office P.O. Box 330 1000 AH Amsterdam The Netherlands