title: Potassium nitrite reaction with 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in urine in relation to the drug screening analysis.
abstract: Recently potassium nitrite has been used as an adulterant to interfere with the analysis of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydro-cannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in urine. A comprehensive study of the THC-COOH and nitrite reaction chemistry and stability under various conditions is presented. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and negative electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) results are given to substantiate the derived reaction mechanism and properties leading to reaction termination. The addition of potassium carbonate as a buffering agent prior to or following sample void as a means of preventing the formation of a nitroso-complexed form of the 11-nor-delta 9+-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid is evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Services Organization, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8244, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuinman
mesh_terms: D002254:Carbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000652:urine*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009573:Nitrites / Q000652:urine*; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D009573:Nitrites; C016780:11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid; C041349:potassium nitrite; D013759:Dronabinol; C037593:potassium carbonate; D011188:Potassium