WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FOR WORLD CLASS PLAY.

September 15, 2016

Subj: New Reference Materials Available through PCC Research Initiatives
WADA-Accredited Lab Directors,
The PCC remains committed to supporting both research initiatives and development of
reference materials for the anti-doping laboratory community. Some of these reference
materials produced using a portion of the more than USD $17 million that the PCC has invested
in anti-doping research are now available to the WADA-accredited laboratories.
IRMS Reference Materials
The PCC has funded the production of six reference materials for IRMS analysis of steroids.
Two of the materials, CU/PCC 33-2 and CU/PCC 34-2, are similar to reference materials
provided earlier. The characteristics of the reference materials are given in Annex I. The
materials are available from the Australian National Measurement Institute (NMI). The catalog
numbers are the same as the numbers listed in Annex I. The NMI has been funded by the PCC
to work on several additional IRMS reference materials that should be available when the
current material expires.
IGF-1 Internal Standard for the LC-MS/MS Assay
The homogeneously-labeled 15N-IGF-1 internal standard material for the LC-MS/MS assay for
GH biomarkers is available through the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST),
the metrology institute in the United States. The material has been assigned the item number
SRM 2927. The SRM number will not appear in the NIST catalog, and therefore the laboratories
need to keep this item number in a safe place for future reference.
Serum-Based Single Point Calibrator for LC-MS/MS Assay
The PCC also funded a serum-based single point calibrator for the IGF-1 LC-MS/MS assay. Each
vial of calibrator contains 0.5 mL of serum. The serum has a consensus concentration of 338
ng/mL. A publication by the PCC IGF-1 LC-MS/MS Working Group showed that a single point
human serum-based calibrator resulted in the best harmonization of inter-laboratory results.1
Distribution responsibilities for this material have been transferred to WADA and it will be
shipped from the Barcelona location where other WADA materials are shipped from. Please
contact Osquel Barroso in order to obtain vials of the material. The material outdates in August
2019.

Cox HD, Lopes F, Woldemariam GA, et al. Interlaboratory agreement of insulin-like growth factor 1
concentrations measured by mass spectrometry. Clin Chem. 2014 Mar;60(3):541-8

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WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FOR WORLD CLASS PLAY.

We hope that these reference materials will help you perform the critical role that you have in
anti-doping science.
Respectfully,
Michael Pearlmutter
Executive Director, Partnership for Clean Competition
The Partnership for Clean Competition
The Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC) is unique in the anti-doping movement's research
and innovation ecosystem. We are the only collaborative - private or public - solely committed
to funding discovery-driven academic and collaborative anti-doping research. The PCC provides
value to the anti-doping community through investing in funding programs (such as working
groups, micro-grants and fellowships) which spur advancement in the field.
The PCC has awarded grant funding to more than 65 anti-doping scientists world-wide since
2008, facilitating major discoveries in testing methodologies, substance detection, and
laboratory excellence. Pre-Applications are reviewed three times per year: March 1, July 1, and
November 1 with applications due one month later. Grants range from $10,000 to more than
$500,000. The PCC Micro-Grant Program was implemented in 2014 to quickly fund research
which addresses imminent anti-doping challenges. Designed for projects requiring less than
$75,000 and six months to complete, the program also enables the development of novel ideas
that may go on to form part of larger grant applications. Since the programs inception the PCC
has funded nine micro-grants central to addressing national and global challenges. Through our
Working Group Program, the PCC is able to foster and promote international collaboration. The
program funds teams of researchers representing various institutions to work together on highpriority challenges that require an interdisciplinary approach. To date, four PCC Working
Groups have contributed to the refinement of anti-doping best practices. Finally, the PCC
Fellowship Program aims to support and develop future generations of anti-doping scientists
through critical mentorship and research experiences for young PhD scientists. The program
involves two years in some of the best research environments in the world, including at least
one year in a WADA-Accredited Laboratory, and has seen resounding success since its
establishment in 2014. The PCC currently has two active fellows, both showing remarkable
promise in the field.
We hope you will consider applying for or sharing news of one of the PCCs many funding
programs, all of which are available through the Partnership for Clean Competition website,
www.cleancompetition.org.

1 Olympic Plaza | Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | United States | www.cleancompetition.org

WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FOR WORLD CLASS PLAY.

ANNEX 1. IRMS Reference Material Characteristics

CU/PCC 33-2 IRMS Reference Material

CU/PCC 34-3 IRMS Reference Material

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WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FOR WORLD CLASS PLAY.

CU/PCC 40-1 IRMS Reference Material

CU/PCC 41-1 IRMS Reference Material

CU/PCC 42-1 IRMS Reference Material

1 Olympic Plaza | Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | United States | www.cleancompetition.org

WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FOR WORLD CLASS PLAY.

CU/PCC 44-1 IRMS Reference Material

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