A reliable method for the detection, confirmation, and quantitation of cannabinoids in blood.
A sensitive and reliable method was developed for the identification and quantitation of cannabinoids in blood. Samples were screened by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Analysis was completed on a benchtop mass selective detector using selected ion monitoring. The limits of detection were 0.2 ng/mL for delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC and 11-hydroxy-THC and 2 ng/mL for 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC. Extensive method validation is presented, including within-run variation, between-run variation, and results from external proficiency testing. Sample stability was studied over a 6-month period. Several derivatives and extraction techniques were evaluated to determine optimum performance. Data from a blind study of 217 samples were used to determine the predictive value of the screening procedure. The procedure is used routinely in the laboratory on samples from drivers issued a citation for impaired driving and also on postmortem blood from death investigations.
Goodall
C R
CR
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Department of Toxicology, Madison 53706, USA.
Basteyns
B J
BJ
D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000592:standards; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000097:blood*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D002186:Cannabinoids; D006213:Hallucinogens; C001427:11-hydroxy-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol; C016780:11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid; D013759:Dronabinol