EPO test numbers?

antoineg said:

I just read the following article from Jeff Jones on cyclingnews.com:

cyclingnews.comtour04Open ↗

Can anyone confirm or comment on the statement that there were only 360 EPO/NESP tests done last year by the UCI?

Probably about right. The test costs about 400- 450 dollars US to run. It is not an automated process either, so it's a little cumbersome to run. Furthermore it only picks up Epo use for 72 to 96 hours after usage (much longer for daqrbopoietin/aranesp). Testing is done randomly and also on those who have suspicious blood counts - hematocrits that while legal flucuate. An example was Rumsas in the 02 tour whose Hct rose from 46- 48% during the tour ( Hct always drops during grand tours) He was singled out for more extensive testing. Recently the UCI has started using the indirect method descibed in the article. This can detect Evidence Epo use out to 3 weeks. It can cause "false positives" with people who very recently at altitude.
Anti doping agencys are getting a little better. As noted by the recent number of positives prior to the olympics. Several positives including a canoer, a MTb and Oscar Cam. They are now testing a couple of weeks before major events when people would be thoereticaly using epo not the day before the event when only a dummy would test positive.