BAµE Cuts Solvent Use in Anti-Doping GC-MS

A bar adsorptive microextraction (BAµE) workflow has been validated for the qualitative confirmation of cocaine and three metabolites in human urine, offering a lower-solvent alternative for anti-doping laboratories running gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Published in Nature Scientific Reports and reported by The Analytical Scientist on 15 July 2026, the method meets World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmatory criteria while reducing solvent consumption compared with conventional solid-phase or liquid-liquid extraction.

The BAµE step uses a small coated bar to selectively retain target analytes from urine. The team compared several polymeric and activated-carbon sorbents and selected a divinylbenzene polymer phase for its best overall performance across cocaine and its metabolites (benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester and cocaethylene). The optimised workflow uses a two-hour extraction from urine at pH 9, micro-liquid desorption with 150 µL acetonitrile, derivatisation, and GC-MS in selected ion monitoring mode. Validation against WADA criteria delivered no false positives or negatives, met all relevant limits of identification (including 1.0 ng/mL for cocaine), and showed no carryover, with final extracts stable up to 144 hours.

Testing extended to three proficiency urine samples and two authentic urine samples previously analysed by the laboratory, with target compounds correctly identified in each case. Compared with an internal solid-phase extraction GC-MS method, the BAµE workflow improved selectivity and sensitivity while remaining compatible with single-quadrupole GC-MS. An AGREE green analytical assessment indicated a moderate profile. The authors suggest the approach can extend to other prohibited substances and couple to LC-MS platforms.

The commercial signal is that green analytical chemistry is moving from methodology discussion to practical validated workflows in high-visibility applications. Anti-doping labs face tightening solvent handling regulations alongside pressure to reduce environmental footprint. Expect consumables suppliers such as Merck KGaA, Restek and Shimadzu to pursue similar sorbent innovations, and for method developers to increasingly report AGREE or comparable green assessments.

For the latest updates and in-depth insights into the world of Analytical Science, including breakthrough treatments, industry trends, and regulatory news, contact Adam Tiberius today!