Liquid chromatographic and mass spectral analysis of the anabolic 17-hydroxy steroid esters.

The liquid chromatographic separation of the common anabolic steroid esters is accomplished in an isocratic reversed-phase system. These anabolic steroids are now controlled substances in many states in the U.S. due to their potential for abuse and misuse. The esters are designed to be very lipophilic materials for slow release from intramuscular injection sites. With a C18 stationary phase material and a mobile phase of methanol-water (85:15), the more lipophilic esters such as testosterone decanoate show a retention time of about 50 min. These esters of varying lipophilicity are well resolved by reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and this technique is very useful for the identification of these compounds in forensic samples.