Changes in androgenic steroid profile due to urine contamination by microorganisms: A prospective study in the context of doping control

Urine contamination by microorganisms may affect the interpretation of urin alysis in different areas of clinical diagnosis. This is particularly relev ant in doping control. A prospective study was designed to assess the effec ts of urine contamination by selected pathogens on the endogenous androgeni c steroid profile. Pooled urine from a healthy male volunteer with standard steroid profile compared with reference values for the Caucasian populatio n was sterilized by filtration and stored in sterile glass tubes. Aliquots were inoculated with known amounts of 15 different organisms (bacteria, fun gi, and moulds) and incubated at 37 degreesC for 2 weeks. Different markers of urine contamination, such as pH, deconjugation of steroids, and metabol ic by-products, were determined. Alkalization of urinary pH was not a relia ble indicator of urine contamination as several organisms grew in this medi um and no alteration of this parameter was found. In uncontaminated urine, less than 10% of steroid glucuronide conjugates were spontaneously hydrolyz ed. Higher rates of hydrolysis for sulfate conjugates were found. An unconj ugated fraction higher than 10% of the total amount of testosterone was a r eliable indicator of urine contamination. However, microbial production of testosterone or epitestosterone was not detected. In contrast, a few organi sms were able to synthesize 5 alpha -androstanedione, 5 beta -androstanedio ne, and androstenedione using endogenous steroids as substrates, (C) 2001 A cademic Press.