By: Mick Hart
Immuno Assay (IA) This procedure uses antibodies that bind to specific drugs, or the metabolites of the drugs produced from their interaction with the body, in order to detect such substances. This test is only as good as the antibodies chosen, as antibodies vary in their specificity of binding; that is, they may also bind to other substances present in the sample that are not illegal by recognising a similarity in another 'like' molecule, and yet, as a result, indicate that an illegal substance would be used.
This would be a rare occurrence, through. This would be what is called a false positive result. Immunoassay has produced false positives with some decongestants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, if you know immunoassay is being used to test your sample, avoid these two classes of drugs prior to the event.
Types of Immunoassay: The two preferred IA techniques used today are Radio immunoassay (RIA) and fluorescence polarisation immunoassay (FPIA). RIA is administered in detecting certain 17-alpha-methyl, 17-alphaethyl, and 19-nortesterone anabolic steroids. The enzyme Multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) is the best performer; so if you aren't certain which of the tests will be used, then concentrate on beating EMIT. If you fail the EMIT test, then you will probably be given the very sensitive GC/MS test, just as confirmation.
PharmChek: This is a plaster like patch which you will have to wear for just over a week and whose function is to absorb your sweat and then detect any possible illegal substances that may have been in your body. The patch itself is tamper-proof and the actual accuracy of the results found is actually unknown at this moment in time.
TestCup: There isn't much known about this test either, but it basically involves a specially designed cup which is used to take urine samples. It possesses an indicator which will change colour depending on which substances are found present.
Cheating the Most common Test -the EMIT: This consists of knowing which test is going to be used for which drug in your next event. If you know the time that the drug will no longer be detectable for the relevant test after coming off it, you can just imply that time-scale on coming off the drug before the event. Quite simple really.
Listed below are the detection times for several drugs: Drug Approx. Detection time in urine using EMI Amphetamines 2 to 4 days Clenbuterol 2 to 4 days - detectable at 0.5ng/ml by GC/MS Nicotine No reliable data. Possibly a long time, because nicotine is fat. Soluble Peptide hormones (such as insulin, g/hormone and IGF-1), non detectable Anabolic steroids Oral steroids: 14 days and Injectable: 1 month
Important Note 1: These drugs are their clearance times are only rough estimates, although reasonably accurate ones, but the real time can vary on each individual according to the time it takes their system to expel the drugs.
Important Note 2: Another test for steroids is by GC/MS, HPLC and RIA and not forgetting EMIT. If you want to pass a GC/MS or HPLC test allow yourself more time for your body to get the drug out of your system than you would in an EMIT test. Each drug can be tested for by GC/MS but you must remember that the drug clearance times are a lot different from person to person.
Important Notes 3/4 on Dreaded Deca. The very bad news with this anabolic steroid is that it is still detectable in your body for nearly 18 months after the last you used it. But when it comes to growth hormone or insulin, it's very good news as there is no known test for it in athletics, so you can use even up to the same day as your event without getting caught.
There are ways to speed up the removal of steroids that are present in your body and let's say it's nothing new. All you have to do is train harder with weights which will increase your metabolism rate and if it is fatty soluble drugs that need getting rid of, then you should concentrate on aerobic type exercises as this will help break down you fatty stores, releasing the stored drugs.
You should also try and take on more calories by introducing additional daily meals to increase your metabolism and drug clearance rate. The correct method will all depend on the drugs you have taken and what you really want to achieve at your next event. If you would like to read more have a look at the mickhartblog where you will find the very best advice for body-building related matters.
