Main description:

The second edition of this book has drawn heavily on the first edition but a huge amount of research on steroid analysis has been published over the last 15 years. As a result, the Editors decided to let the first edition of this book stand on its own and direct readers interested in pre-1995 steroid analysis to it, simply because the post-1995 research can on its own fill the second edition. We have tried to keep a balance but equally have allowed authors of each chapter a significant degree of freedom to approach their particular topics as they thought fit – they are after all the experts in their field. We hope that readers will agree that we have got the balance right. In re-writing or updating these chapters, we have been greatly assisted by the developments in the availability of research publications electronically. Huge strides have been made in this area since 1995 and the ability to read a paper on one’s computer rather than trekking to the British Library is a tremendous advantage. The editors wish to express their gratitude to their respective insti- tions (St. Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London and Kings College London) for providing us with el- tronic access to research journals from our home computers. Without such access, it would have been impossible to complete this book.

Feature:

Second edition of successful reference on steroid analysis

Includes a completely new chapter on pharmaceutical aspects of steroid analysis

Comprehensive and up-to-date review of steroid analysis, written by experts in the field

Strong focus on developments in steroid analysis since 1995

Back cover:

This comprehensive and up-to-date 2nd edition of the Steroid Analysis handbook, written by a team of distinguished experts from around the world concentrates on the analysis of steroids in biological fluids. This edition is based on the same format as the first, primarily dealing with analysis of low levels of steroid analytes in biological fluids, but including an extra chapter on pharmaceutical aspects of steroid analysis. Spectroscopic and other methods, including UV and IR absorption spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, chromatography and immunoassay of steroids are treated in detail. Discussion of general methods for extraction, purification and quantitation is followed by consideration of the analysis of specific important steroid groups, such as progestagens, estrogens, corticosteroids, vitamins D, bile acids and anabolic steroids and their metabolites. The editors have made a conscious decision to leave the first edition to stand on its own with regards to steroid analysis prior to 1995 and authors therefore were asked to review the modern post-1995 steroid scene, though pre-1995 data were not excluded if authors felt it was necessary.

This book should be of interest to analytical chemists, biochemists and chemical pathologists with an interest or involvement in steroids.

Contents:

Chapter 1. Structure and Nomenclature of Steroids Chapter 2. Spectroscopic Methods of Steroid Analysis Chapter 3. General Methods for the Extraction, Purification and Measurement of Steroids by Chromatography and Mass Spectrometre Chapter 4. Immunoassay of Steroids Chapter 5. Analysis of Corticosteroids Chapter 6 Analysis of Androgens their Derivatives Chapter 7. Analysis of Progestagens Chapter 8 The Measurement of Estrogens Chapter 9. Anabolic steroids: Metabolism, doping and detection in human and equestrian sports Chapter 10. Analysis of Bile Acids Chapter 11. Analysis of Vitamins D, Structural Analogs and their Metabolites Chapter 12. Industrial and Compendial Steroid Analysis Chapter 13. Quality Management of Steroid Hormone Assays