Collecting samples for testing isn’t limited to urine. Anti-doping organizations collect blood samples, too! This can be through a traditional blood sample, known as venous puncture, or dried blood spot testing (DBS). This page provides an overview of venous blood draw.
Venous blood samples are always collected by a blood collection officer (BCO) who is a certified phlebotomist—a medical professional trained in blood draw procedures.
Why is blood collected for anti-doping?
Not all prohibited substances can be detected through urine tests. Blood samples can be analyzed for more prohibited substances, for evidence of performance-enhancing drug use, and blood doping.
The Blood Collection Process
Notification of Selection
A Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone will notify you that you’ve been selected for testing and tell you whether they’re going to collect urine, blood, or both. If you’re a minor, you must bring a representative with you, which could be a parent, guardian, coach, or another trusted adult.
Relax
At the doping control station, you will remain seated for at least 10 minutes before blood collection. The DCO or a chaperone will stay with you.
You may be asked some questions:
- Have you had blood drawn before?
- Do you ever feel sick or faint at the sight of blood?
- Which arm would you prefer to have blood drawn from?
- Is there anything else I should know before we draw blood?
- Do you have any questions?
Choose
Just like with urine sample collection, the DCO or BCO will ask you to select your sample collection equipment. You will select your equipment, inspect it, and verify the numbers on the kit, then pass the equipment, including the blood collection tubes, to the BCO.
Get Ready
The BCO will prepare and inspect the equipment in front of you, then explain the blood draw procedures:
- They will tell you how many tubes of blood they will take for the sample collection session.
- They will apply the tourniquet to your non-dominant arm and use an alcohol swab to clean the skin at the puncture site.
- They will insert the needle into your vein.
- Once the blood starts to flow, they will remove the tourniquet and fill the tubes.
- During the blood draw, you should remain still. Let personnel know if you start to feel unwell.
Ask Questions
If you feel anxious about having blood drawn, you’re welcome to ask questions about the process, including the equipment, and the number of tubes that will be collected.
Blood Draw
The BCO will fill the blood tubes with the required amount of blood, then remove the needle. Next, you will seal the tubes into bottles that will be sent to the lab. If the volume of blood is insufficient, the BCO will remove the needle, then repeat the entire process, starting with equipment selection.
If a sufficient volume of blood is not collected in three attempts, the DCO will end the session.
Safety Measures
The DCO and/or BCO will have a safety kit available during the sample collection session. The kit includes a first aid kit and a mat that can be used to lie on if you feel unwell.
Rest
After the BCO dresses the puncture site, they will provide you with after-care instructions, such as keeping pressure on the site. You will be advised not to do any strenuous exercise for at least 30 minutes to minimize potential bruising.
Tell sample collection personnel know if you feel unwell before you leave the doping control station.
FAQ: Blood Sample Collection
Every national-level Canadian athlete and every sport is subject to the blood collection program.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), international federations and national anti-doping organizations all agree that blood sampling and testing for doping control is a viable, dependable and necessary element of a complete and robust anti-doping program.
The collection of blood is crucial to detect the fullest range of substances and methods on the Prohibited List. Some of the emerging areas where blood collection can make an important contribution are related to testing for blood doping, for hGH and to monitor selected blood parameters (known as the Athlete Biological Passport Program). Blood sampling will further assist in providing a level playing field for all athletes and provide an additional means for athletes to demonstrate they are competing clean.
The process is very similar to having your blood drawn for medical purposes. The major difference is that you will package the blood tubes after the blood draw.
All BCOs are contracted through a third-party service provider (Dynacare) and are certified phlebotomists. They are trained in standard blood draw procedures, first aid, and have health and safety training.
Being seated for 10 minutes avoids changes in plasma volume in the athlete’s blood, which could result in an increase or decrease in overall blood volume.
While dried blood spot (DBS) testing is used for sample collection, it is also intended to supplement testing, not replace urine and venous blood collection.
We usually collect two tubes of blood, so it can be a quick process, but there are a few other steps to complete, including securing the samples and completing paperwork. The BCO also needs to ensure your well-being and maintain the integrity of the sample collection process. Overall, the process from start to finish can take about 30 minutes.
If you are prone to fainting when you give blood, you can bring a representative with you. You are also encouraged to tell sample collection personnel how you feel about needles because it can help them make modifications to the process.
If you feel unwell, the BCO will assess the situation and use their experience and training to provide you with care or advise the DCO to conclude the blood collection process. Only sample collection personnel will decide whether to continue the session or cancel it. They will make sure you are well enough to leave the doping control station, and will also provide you with aftercare instructions, if needed.
If you feel unwell, the BCO will assess the situation and use their experience and training to provide you with care or advise the DCO to conclude the blood collection process. Only sample collection personnel will decide whether to continue the session or cancel it. They will make sure you are well enough to leave the doping control station, and will also provide you with aftercare instructions, if needed.
While it is normal practice to collect a urine sample first, a blood sample can be collected first if approved by the DCO. However, due to logistics and availability of personnel, it may not always be possible.
If you are uncomfortable or feel unsafe at any point during the procedure, please let sample collection personnel know about your concerns or ask questions. If a modification to the process would make you feel safer or more comfortable, changes to the process can be considered.
The different blood collection tubes are used to screen for a variety of prohibited substances and methods, such as blood transfusions and human growth hormone. They also collect different volumes of blood, and require different rest times before blood can be drawn.
Human growth hormone (hGH) is a hormone that is synthesized and secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. hGH is known to act on many aspects of cellular metabolism and is also necessary for skeletal growth in humans. The major role of hGH in body growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). IGF-1 stimulates production of cartilage cells, resulting in bone growth, and also plays a key role in muscle and organ growth. hGH is prohibited both in- and out-of-competition under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
Blood doping is the misuse of certain techniques and/or substances to increase one’s red blood cell mass, which allows the body to transport more oxygen to muscles and therefore increase stamina and performance.
There are three widely known substances or methods used for blood doping: erythropoietin (EPO), synthetic oxygen carriers, and blood transfusions. Each is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List.
- Erythropoietin (EPO) is a peptide hormone that is produced naturally by the human body. EPO is released from the kidneys and acts on the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production. An increase in red blood cells improves the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry to the body’s muscles.
- Synthetic oxygen carriers, such as haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) or perflurocarbons (PFCs), are purified proteins or chemicals having the ability to carry oxygen.
- There are two forms of blood transfusions: autologous and homologous. Autologous blood doping is the transfusion of one’s own blood, which has been stored (refrigerated or frozen) until needed. Homologous blood doping is the transfusion of blood that has been taken from another person with the same blood type. Although the use of blood transfusions for blood doping dates back several decades, its recent resurgence is likely due to the introduction of efficient EPO detection methods.