About Us

The Laboratory is located at the head office of the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa at Turffontein Racecourse in the south of Johannesburg.  It is well-equipped and is capable of dealing with a variety of specimen types. The sample preparation and extraction of these is possible with a range of techniques including off- and on-line solid phase extraction.  Chromatography includes GC and LC and there is much expertise in GC/MSⁿ and LC/MSⁿ, on ion trap, quadrupole, triple quadrupole and hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap instrumental techniques.  The Laboratory is experienced in method development, method validation, qualitative screening and quantitative analysis.  These are undertaken in compliance with an ISO/IEC 17025 quality standard.

Analytical experience and specialities

The Laboratory started testing urine and plasma specimens from racehorses during 1985 and has since analysed in excess of 89 000 specimens.  Our screening is conducted in accordance with regulations from the International Federation of Horseracing Authority. The testing of jockey urine specimens commenced in 1999 and to date more than 1250 specimens have been analysed.  More than 270 horse and jockey specimens have been confirmed and reported as positive for the presence of prohibited substances and more than 130 confirmatory reference analyses (drug positives which require independent analysis) have been undertaken for overseas racing jurisdictions.  During the last few years contract analysis has become more and more prevalent. Such work includes customised drug screening for other equine sports (e.g. dressage, show jumping, show and endurance), horse pre-purchase drug screening, race pigeons screening for performance enhancing drugs as well as feed analysis and residue analysis for meat exportation from South Africa.

Laboratory staff

The Laboratory Directorate consists of two PhD scientists (Biochemistry and Chemistry) who hold professional membership of the Association of Official Racing Chemists (AORC), membership of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) and the South African Chemical Institute (SACI).  The Laboratory Director is a registered Professional Natural Scientist at the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions and the chairman of the South African Association of Mass Spectrometry (SAAMS).  The 13 supporting scientific staff in the four sections of the Laboratory are qualified at the MTech, BSc Hons, BSc, BTech or National Diploma level.