Resources
firstFlagX
Essential information for the safe and correct use of firstFlagX kits
Helpful guides
- Reverse pipetting (watch on YouTube)
Kit Safety Data Sheet
NeuterReady
Essential information for InsituGen’s veterinary testing service NeuterReady, and NeuterReady kits for use in reference laboratories
Veterinary clinic users: Testing process and forms
Laboratory users: User Manual and Information
Media
Interviews, publications, and news concerning the purpose and science behind InsituGen’s technology
- Dr Maryanne Demasi from ABC’s Catalyst programme in 2013 discusses various forms of sports doping, including a description and video of cell-based androgen screening assays and a conversation with InsituGen Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Alison Heather (watch on YouTube)
Publications of interest
For more information on the science behind InsituGen’s technology
- Sutherland ES, Manodara G, Gillon A, Stevens KL, Kauff A, Heather AK. Estrogenic activity in tampon products. Journal of the Endocrine Society, Vol 10 (6), Jun 2026 https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvag094
- Cooper ER, Hughes G, Kauff A, Sutherland E, Ashley Z, Heather AK. A cell-free bioassay for the detection of androgens. Drug Test Anal. 2021 May;13(5):903-915. doi: 10.1002/dta.3024. Epub 2021 Mar 28. Erratum in: Drug Test Anal. 2022 Jan;14(1):196. PMID: 33709622.
- Gillon A, Ho ENM, Chan GHM, Kauff A, Hughes G, Lund RA, Ashley Z, Wan TSM, Heather AK. Unravelling androgens in sport: Altrenogest shows strong activation of the androgen receptor in a mammalian cell bioassay. Drug Test Anal. 2021 Mar;13(3):523-528. doi: 10.1002/dta.2941. Epub 2020 Oct 26. PMID: 33037724.
- Handelsman DJ, Cooper ER, Heather AK. Bioactivity of 11 keto and hydroxy androgens in yeast and mammalian host cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2022 Apr;218:106049. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.106049. Epub 2022 Jan 3. PMID: 34990809.
- Lund RA, Cooper ER, Wang H, Ashley Z, Cawley AT, Heather AK. Nontargeted detection of designer androgens: Underestimated role of in vitro bioassays. Drug Test Anal. 2021 May;13(5):894-902. doi: 10.1002/dta.3049. Epub 2021 May 14. PMID: 33864649.
- Cooper ER, McGrath KCY, Li X, Heather AK. Androgen Bioassay for the Detection of Nonlabeled Androgenic Compounds in Nutritional Supplements. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018 Jan 1;28(1):10-18. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0018. Epub 2018 Jan 25. PMID: 28787178.
- Cooper ER, McGrath KC, Heather AK. In vitro androgen bioassays as a detection method for designer androgens. Sensors (Basel). 2013 Feb 6;13(2):2148-63. doi: 10.3390/s130202148. PMID: 23389345; PMCID: PMC3649408.
- Heather (Death) AK, McGrath KC, Kazlauskas R, Handelsman DJ. Tetrahydrogestrinone is a potent androgen and progestin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 May;89(5):2498-500. doi: 10.1210/jc.2004-0033. PMID: 15126583.
- Heather (Death) AK, McGrath KC, Handelsman DJ. Valproate is an anti-androgen and anti-progestin. Steroids. 2005 Dec 15;70(14):946-53. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2005.07.003. Epub 2005 Sep 13. PMID: 16165177.
- Waller CC, Weththasinghe SA, McClure L, Cawley AT, Suann C, Suann E, Sutherland E, Cooper E, Heather A, McLeod MD. In vivo metabolism of the designer anabolic steroid hemapolin in the thoroughbred horse. Drug Test Anal. 2020 Jun;12(6):752-762. doi: 10.1002/dta.2769. Epub 2020 Feb 4. PMID: 31950580.
- Cawley AT, Blakey K, Waller CC, McLeod MD, Boyd S, Heather A, McGrath KC, Handelsman DJ, Willis AC. Detection and metabolic investigations of a novel designer steroid: 3-chloro-17α-methyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol. Drug Test Anal. 2016 Jul;8(7):621-32. doi: 10.1002/dta.1832. Epub 2015 Jun 23. PMID: 27443417.