Radioimmunoassay of nortestosterone and related steroids.

A radioimmunoassay of nortestosterone and related steroids, including its principal metabolities, is described and evaluated. Antisera against nortestosterone-17 beta-hemisuccinate- and nortestosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin were raised in goats. By using a mixture of such antisera with different selectivity, the cross-reactions of several naturally occurring steroids can be reduced. The method can be applied for the detection of nortestosterone in both unprocessed or hydrolyzed urine extracts and also in plasma. It has been used as a screening test for anabolics in doping control.