Optimization of LC method for the determination of testosterone and epitestosterone in urine samples in view of biomedical studies and anti-doping research studies

A sensitive and rapid liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the simultaneous determination of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) in human urine samples has been developed and elaborated. The ratio of the both steroids (T/E) in human urine is a widely used as doping control indicator. A sample pretreatment by solid-phase extraction (SPE) after hydrolysis using 36% hydrochloric acid for determination of total level of T has been applied. Unconjugated (free) form of the both androgens were determined without hydrolysis steps, what makes novelty of the method, because simplifies the proposed procedure. In turn, the measurements of urinary free T and E provided the diagnostic information for excess adrenal production of steroids. The proposed LC assay was evaluated by analyzing a series of urine samples containing T, E and methyltestosterone (MT) as internal standard at the range of concentration 2–300 ng−1 mL of both analyzed hormones. The proposed method was fully validated for specificity, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, precision and trueness according to the current requirements concerning analytical methods. Interestingly, the developed LC method allows to obtain a sensitive enhancement with respect to UV detection with the quantitation limit for T and E equaled 2 ng mL−1. The method was selective and reliable for identity and enable to detect changes of endogenous levels of T and E in urine independently of fluctuations characteristic for both analyzed endogenous hormone level in plasma.