LC-MS/MS-Based Method for Long-Term Steroid Profiling in Human Scalp Hair

The study developed and validated a method using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for long-term steroid profiling in human scalp hair. This method allowed for the quantification of various steroids, including cortisol, cortisone, testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP). The analysis demonstrated functional sensitivity with low limits of quantification and acceptable precision, with inter-run coefficients of variation (CVs) below 16% and intra-individual CVs below 15% for most steroids, except for 17OHP, which had a CV of 19.7%. This method provided a novel approach for clinical and research applications in endocrinology by enabling the measurement of long-term steroid concentrations in hair.