Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a urine test that finally can identify athletes who misuse certain kinds of insulin in an illicit attempt to enhance performance.

An article scheduled to appear in an April edition of Analytical Chemistry says it is possible to detect the misuse of insulin in a urine sample. Scientists had not attempted to develop a test in the past because of the presumption that it was impossible to detect misuses of insulin. Because insulin is rationed and used efficiently by the body, a byproduct of insulin would be theoretically undetectable. However, with the advent of the newer long-acting insulin analogues, scientists are now able to identify degradation product in the urine.

The test does not identify residue from the use of two other forms of long-duration insulin. However, the test does identify the misuse of Lantus, manufactured by Sanofi-aventis. Determination of long-acting insulin analogues in urine is especially helpful for doping control purposes. The procedure provides a fast and reliable way to identify the misuse of the long-acting insulin analogue LAN in regular doping control specimens.