title: Determination of delta9-THC in whole blood using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: A simple and reliable liquid-liquid extraction method for the determination of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in whole blood utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in electron impact mode is described. The substance is derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride in pentafluropropanol. The limit of detection is 0.5 ng/mL for a 1-mL specimen, with recovery greater than 70%. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) is 3.1% to 5.2%, and the interassay CV is 6.4% to 9.5%, calculated at THC concentrations of 1, 5, and 25 ng/mL. The accuracy is between 95 and 97%. The optimization of extraction and derivatization conditions is detailed.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank 3006, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark Hok Chi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Olaf H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Drummer
mesh_terms: D002021:Buffers; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000097:blood*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D020005:Propanols / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: C438507:2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propanol; D002021:Buffers; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D020005:Propanols; C068048:pentafluoropropionic anhydride; D013759:Dronabinol