Dried blood spot (DBS) detection methods for doping agents have been developed in the last two decades with the intention of using this technique to supplement routine testing programmes. Recently, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced the intention to use DBS at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games owing to the advantages of the DBS application in routine doping control. Therefore, the further development of detection methods for doping agents in DBS is important and urgent. WADA have launched a Technical Document that will confirm DBS as an approved method of sample collection and analysis and compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (WAD Code). This research will investigate the use of DBS application in doping analysis: sample collection, storage and assay validation as outlined by WADA. The technique will be applied to a range of analytes.

A DBS Sample is a blood sample that is collected by a puncture/incision of the skin (commonly the fingertip or upper arm) to access capillaries (small blood vessels) and the collection of small volumes of capillary blood onto an absorbent sample support which is then allowed to dry. This sampling technique offers several advantages over venous blood sampling for doping control, namely 1) less intrusive collection procedure, 2) quick and simple collection, 3) improved stability, negating the requirement for refrigeration during transport of sample, thereby reducing transport costs, and 4) analysis may be performed for some substances that may otherwise be more rapidly degraded in other specimen types. UKAD and the ITF are supporting the development of methods for DBS testing to include within their repertoire for doping control. DBS sampling would complement the current urine and venous blood sample testing programmes and enable targeting of greater numbers of athletes.

Investigators

Dr Chris Walker	Postdoctoral Analyst
Stephanie Farrant	Senior Analyst-GC-MS
Cheyanne Pierre	GC-MS Analyst
Amanda Scarlett	Analyst-GC-MS
Gillian Knight	Senior Quality Manager
Sugandhi Anand	Quality Officer
William Chih-Wei Chang	Assistant Professor
Nick Wojek	Head of Science & Medicine, UK Anti-Doping
Dr Nikola Costa	Research & Innovation Lead, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD)
Dr Neil Chester	Senior Lecturer
Stuart Miller	Head of Science & Technical, International Tennis Federation