Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast have devised innovative new tests for identifying the illegal use of steroids in the European beef industry. Not only these tests are cheaper but they are also far more accurate and convenient than conventional doping tests in tracing the illegal drugs.

This study was published in the scientific journal Analytical Chemistry and led by Professor Chris Elliot, the Director of the Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use at Queen’s.

From Sciencedaily.com:

Using a commercial blood analyser commonly found in hospitals, the researchers measured 20 different chemical markers, including proteins and cholesterol, in cattle treated with and without the commonly used steroids testosterone and oestrogen over a 42-day study period.

The new test detected the presence of the steroids with a high accuracy rate - between 91 and 96 per cent.

Professor Elliot said: “In recent years, a trend of administration of very low dose cocktails of naturally occurring hormones has made conventional forms of analysis even more problematic.

“Even if minute traces of steroids can be detected, proving definitive illegal administration under these circumstances is close to impossible.

“The ability to detect evidence of such administrations using metabolic markers would be a major scientific advance.

Professor Elliot said that single steroid administration means that a reduced metabolic response was generated compared with what could have been achieved through cocktail hormone treatments that are being abused in Europe.

This research was funded by the European Commission and safefood organization in Ireland.