Medicolegal Aspects of Cannabis and Its Metabolites Detection Window in Oral Fluid And Urine (original) (raw)
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Cannabinoids and metabolites in expectorated oral fluid following controlled smoked cannabis
Clinica Chimica Acta, 2012
Background-Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid (OF) implies cannabis intake, but eliminating passive exposure and improving interpretation of test results requires additional research. Methods-Ten adult cannabis users smoked ad libitum one 6.8% THC cigarette. Expectorated OF was collected for up to 22h, and analyzed within 24 h of collection. THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), cannabidiol, and cannabinol were quantified by 2-dimensional-GCMS. Results-Eighty specimens were analyzed; 6 could not be collected due to dry mouth. THC was quantifiable in 95.2%, cannabidiol in 69.3%, cannabinol in 62.3%, and THCCOOH in 94.7% of specimens. Highest THC, cannabidiol, and cannabinol concentrations were 22370, 1000, and 1964 μg/l, respectively, 0.25 h after the start of smoking; THCCOOH peaked within 2 h (up to 560 ng/ l). Concentrations 6h after smoking were THC (0.9-90.4 μg/l) and THCCOOH (17.0-151 ng/l) (8 of 9 positive for both); only 4 were positive for cannabidiol (0.5-2.4 μg/l) and cannabinol (1.0-3.0 μg/l). By 22h, there were 4 THC (0.4-10.3 μg/l), 5 THCCOOH (6.0-24.0 ng/l), 1 cannabidiol (0.3 μg/l), and no cannabinol positive specimens. Conclusions-THCCOOH in OF suggests no passive contamination, and CBD and CBN suggest recent cannabis smoking. Seventeen alternative cutoffs were evaluated to meet the needs of different drug testing programs.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 2006
The detection of the marijuana metabolite 11-nor-Agtetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxyllc acid (THC-COOH) in oral fluid specimens is described, and its contribution to an immunoassay for the detection of cannabinoids is investigated. Oral fluid specimens, screened using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunoassay (ELISA), were carried forward to confirmation for both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and THC-COOH using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). One hundred and fifty-three specimens were analyzed, of which 143 screened positive for cannabinoids. Ninety-five (66.4%) of these specimens were positive for both THC and THC-COOH; 14 (9.7%) were positive for THC-COOH only, and 27 (18.8%) were positive for THC only. The GC-MS assay for the detection of THC-COOH in oral fluid was linear to 160 pg/ml, with a limit of quantitation of 2 pg/mL The detection of the marijuana metabolite, THC-COOH, in 76.2% of oral fluid specimens screening positive for cannabinoids is reported. As a potential defense against passive exposure claims, proposed SAMHSA regulations may require the simultaneous collection of a urine sample when oral fluid samples are used. The detection of the metabolite, THC-COOH, is a significant alternative to this approach because its presence in oral fluid minimizes the argument for passive exposure to marijuana in drug testing cases.
Drug Testing and Analysis, 2019
Point-of-collection testing (POCT) for Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid is increasingly used to detect driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC). However, previous studies have questioned the reliability and accuracy of two commonly used POCT devices, the Securetec DrugWipe ® 5 s (DW5s) and Dräger DrugTest ® 5000 (DT5000). In the current placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to accurately quantify cannabinoid concentrations in the oral fluid of 14 participants at various timepoints (10, 60, 120, and 180 minutes) following vaporization of 125 mg of THC-dominant (11% THC; <1% CBD), THC/CBD equivalent (11% THC; 11% CBD) and placebo (<1% THC; <1% CBD) cannabis. At each timepoint, oral fluid was also screened using the DW5s (10 ng/mL THC cutoff) and DT5000 (10 ng/mL THC cutoff). LC-MS/MS analysis showed peak oral fluid THC concentrations at the 10 minute timepoint with a rapid decline thereafter. This trajectory did not differ with THC dominant and THC/CBD equivalent cannabis. With a 10 ng/mL confirmatory cutoff , 5% of DW5s test results were false positives and 16% false negatives. For the DT5000, 10% of test results were false positives and 9% false negatives. Neither the DW5s nor the DT5000 demonstrated the recommended >80% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Accuracy was lowest at 60 minutes, when THC concentrations were often close to the screening cutoff (10 ng/mL). POCT devices can be useful tools in detecting recent cannabis use; however, limitations should be noted, and confirmatory LC-MS/MS quantification of results is strongly advisable.
Drug Testing and Analysis
Point-of-collection testing (POCT) for Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid is increasingly used to detect driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC). However, previous studies have questioned the reliability and accuracy of two commonly used POCT devices, the Securetec DrugWipe ® 5 s (DW5s) and Dräger DrugTest ® 5000 (DT5000). In the current placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study we used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to accurately quantify cannabinoid concentrations in the oral fluid of 14 participants at various timepoints (10, 60, 120, and 180 minutes) following vaporization of 125 mg of THC-dominant (11% THC; <1% CBD), THC/CBD equivalent (11% THC; 11% CBD) and placebo (<1% THC; <1% CBD) cannabis. At each timepoint, oral fluid was also screened using the DW5s (10 ng/mL THC cutoff) and DT5000 (10 ng/mL THC cutoff). LC-MS/MS analysis showed peak oral fluid THC concentrations at the 10 minute timepoint with a rapid decline thereafter. This trajectory did not differ with THC dominant and THC/CBD equivalent cannabis. With a 10 ng/mL confirmatory cutoff , 5% of DW5s test results were false positives and 16% false negatives. For the DT5000, 10% of test results were false positives and 9% false negatives. Neither the DW5s nor the DT5000 demonstrated the recommended >80% sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Accuracy was lowest at 60 minutes, when THC concentrations were often close to the screening cutoff (10 ng/mL). POCT devices can be useful tools in detecting recent cannabis use; however, limitations should be noted, and confirmatory LC-MS/MS quantification of results is strongly advisable.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2014
BACKGROUND: ⌬ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) have been reported in blood from frequent cannabis smokers for an extended time during abstinence. We compared THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, cannabidiol, cannabinol, THC-glucuronide, and THCCOO-glucuronide blood and plasma disposition in frequent and occasional cannabis smokers. METHODS: Frequent and occasional smokers resided on a closed research unit and smoked one 6.8% THC cannabis cigarette ad libitum. Blood and plasma cannabinoids were quantified on admission (approximately 19 h before), 1 h before, and up to 15 times (0.5-30 h) after smoking. RESULTS: Cannabinoid blood and plasma concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers compared with occasional smokers at most time points for THC and 11-OH-THC and at all time points for THCCOOH and THCCOO-glucuronide. Cannabidiol, cannabinol, and THC-glucuronide were not significantly different at any time point. Overall blood and plasma cannabinoid concentrations were significantly higher in frequent smokers for THC, 11-OH-THC, THCCOOH, and THCCOO-glucuronide, with and without accounting for baseline concentrations. For blood THC Ͼ5 g/L, median (range) time of last detection was 3.5 h (1.1-Ͼ30 h) in frequent smokers and 1.0 h (0-2.1 h) in 8 occasional smokers; 2 individuals had no samples with THC Ͼ5 g/L. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis smoking history plays a major role in cannabinoid detection. These differences may impact clinical and impaired driving drug detection. The presence of cannabidiol, cannabinol, or THCglucuronide indicates recent use, but their absence does not exclude it.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2011
Background: Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in oral fluid (OF) implies cannabis intake, but eliminating passive exposure and improving interpretation of test results requires additional research. Methods: Ten adult cannabis users smoked ad libitum one 6.8% THC cigarette. Expectorated OF was collected for up to 22 h, and analyzed within 24 h of collection. THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), cannabidiol, and cannabinol were quantified by 2-dimensional-GCMS. Results: Eighty specimens were analyzed; 6 could not be collected due to dry mouth. THC was quantifiable in 95.2%, cannabidiol in 69.3%, cannabinol in 62.3%, and THCCOOH in 94.7% of specimens. Highest THC, cannabidiol, and cannabinol concentrations were 22370, 1000, and 1964 μg/l, respectively, 0.25 h after the start of smoking; THCCOOH peaked within 2 h (up to 560 ng/l). Concentrations 6 h after smoking were THC (0.9-90.4 μg/l) and THCCOOH (17.0-151 ng/l) (8 of 9 positive for both); only 4 were positive for cannabidiol (0.5-2.4 μg/l) and cannabinol (1.0-3.0 μg/l). By 22 h, there were 4 THC (0.4-10.3 μg/l), 5 THCCOOH (6.0-24.0 ng/l), 1 cannabidiol (0.3 μg/l), and no cannabinol positive specimens. Conclusions: THCCOOH in OF suggests no passive contamination, and CBD and CBN suggest recent cannabis smoking. Seventeen alternative cutoffs were evaluated to meet the needs of different drug testing programs.
Cannabinoid Disposition in Oral Fluid after Controlled Smoked Cannabis
Clinical Chemistry, 2012
Oral fluid (OF) is an advantageous matrix for cannabis detection, with on-site tests available for roadside drug-impaired driver screening. Limited data exist for device performance following consumption of vaporized cannabis, which reduces exposure to harmful combustion by-products. We assessed cannabinoid OF disposition, with and without alcohol, and evaluated on-site Dräger Ò DrugTest 5000 performance (Dräger) following controlled vaporization of cannabis. Forty-three cannabis smokers (C19/3 months, B3 days/week) reported 10-16 h prior to dosing, and drank placebo or low-dose alcohol [target *0.065 % peak breath-alcohol concentration (BrAC)] 10 min prior to inhaling 500 mg of placebo, low-dose [2.9 % D 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)], or high-dose (6.7 % THC) vaporized cannabis (within-subjects; six possible alcohol-cannabis combinations; 19 completers). BrAC readings and OF (Quantisal TM , Dräger) were Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (