Detection of Anabolic steroids part 3

Home Urine Kits

The steroid detection kits can also be used at home, school or gym. The company usually sends a kit which contains sterile containers. One collects urine in the container and ships it back. Within a week, the results are ready.

Detection time frame

The detection of anabolic steroids in the urine is a tricky task. Not all steroids appear in the urine at the same time. Some steroids are excreted faster and can be detected in the urine in a few days after use. Other anabolic steroids remain in the body for months and can be detected in urine months after their use has been discontinued. Detection of testosterone in the urine is meaningless. Testosterone is a natural hormone and low amount are normally detected in urine of most males. However, when high levels of testosterone are detected in the urine, it is usually due to exogenous use.

Facts about Anabolic Steroid Testing in Urine

Laboratories who work in conjunction with sports agencies must be certified to ensure that they have decent quality and excellent staff.

The laboratories have a standard cutoff level of 2 ng/ml for all anabolic steroids. If the levels of an anabolic steroid are more than 2 ng/ml, it always raises suspicion of illegal use.

Since all tests can detect levels of testosterone and epitestosterone, the cut off point for these two steroids are different.

For Testosterone and epitestosterone, the ratios of two substances are compared in the urine. The cutoff is 4:1. In the healthy adult male, the ratio of testosterone and epitestosterone is roughly 1:1. when this ratio is altered, there is always suspicion of illegal steroid use. While the ratio of 4:1 is the standard cutoff, there are some laboratories that use a cut off of 6:1.

When the testosterone levels are 4 times or more than the levels of epitestosterone, it means that someone has been using anabolic steroids.

In the majority of cases, the naturally occurring testosterone will not be detected in urine unless the dose is greater than 2 ng/ml.

Androstenedione 101 part 2

BodyBuilding

Androstendione is a naturally occurring steroid in the body that is manufactured by a number of organs including adrenals, ovary and testes. Androstenedione is then released into blood stream and rapidly converted into the male sex hormone, testosterone. Some androstenedione is also converted into the female sex hormone, estrogen, in peripheral (fatty) tissues. In all individuals, manufacture of androstenedione in adrenal gland is controlled by the pituitary hormone ACTH, whereas production of gonadal androstenedione is under control of gonadotrophins, LH and FSH.

There are several reasons why individuals take androstenedione.

The one major reason why anabolic steroids have become popular is that there is a wide spread belief that this agent can help increase body and muscle mass. For decades, sports athletes, both professionals and amateurs, have been trying to get a quick fix to their body size. Everyone wants to throw further, run faster, lift more and play better. While the exact number of athletes who take anabolic steroids is not known, the numbers are indeed high. The problem is not only in professional sports but also at college and high school level. The lure of money in professional sports has everybody pumping steroids . Surveys from schools indicate that at least 3-9% of all high school athletes have tried out some type of performance enhancing drug. And this includes both genders. The problem is not only seen in North America but appears to be common in Europe, Russia, and even some parts of Africa.

The first reason why androstenedione is hormone of choice by bodybuilders and athletes is because testosterone is not effective when taken orally. Testosterone is rapidly broken down by liver before it can interact with tissues. To circumvent this problem of rapid metabolism of testosterone, many formulations of androstenedione have been developed.

Sustanon and Bodybuilding

Sustanon 250 (testosterone blend)

Sustanon is a generic name for an oil based formulation of testosterone. In essence it is a mixture of testosterone propionate (30mg), testosterone phenylpropionate (60mg), testosterone isocaproate (60 mg) and testosterone decanoate (100mg). The different proportions of the esterified mixtures provide different half lives. This provides for a continuous release of testosterone from the injected site.

Sustanon was once widely used for the treatment of a few medical disorders in Europe. The drug was useful to treat infertility and administered once a month.

While Sustanon has been heavily touted by athletes and bodybuilders as a drug of choice, a single formulation of testosterone enanthate or Cypionate can do the same thing. The combination of esters is better suited for the treatment of medical disorders and not for bodybuilders. One negative aspect about Sustanon is that it does remain in the body for a very long time and can be easily detected in the urine.

Besides being an anabolic agent, Sustanon also has the ability to increase the production of red blood cells. This results in more oxygen carrying capacity and hence more exercise endurance.