Non‐targeted acquisition strategy for screening doping compounds based on GC‐EI‐hybrid quadrupole‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry: A focus on exogenous anabolic steroids

This is a first look at a non‐targeted screening method based on Orbitrap gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technology for a large number of banned compounds in sports found in urine, including exogenous anabolic steroids, β‐agonists, narcotics, stimulants, hormone modulators, and diuretics. A simple sample preparation was processed in four steps: an enzymatic hydrolysis, liquid–liquid extraction, evaporation, and trimethylsilylation. All compounds were able to meet the World Anti‐Doping Agency's sensitivity criteria with mass accuracies less than 1 ppm and with sufficient points across the peak by running the Orbitrap GC–MS in full‐scan mode. In addition, we discuss our initial findings of using a full‐scan selected ion monitoring‐tandem mass spectrometry (SIM‐MS/MS) approach as a way to obtain lower detection limits and reach desirable selectivity for some exogenous anabolic steroids. By performing non‐targeted initial screening method in GC Orbitrap MS, the majority of compounds were able to meet WADA's sensitivity requirements with mass accuracies less than 1 ppm and sufficient points across the GC peaks. In addition, we will discuss our initial findings performing simultaneously full scan/MSMS/SIM analysis to overcome selectivity and sensitivivty issues.