Fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry determination of cannabinoids in micro volume blood samples after dabsyl derivatization.

For the past six or seven years analytical methods using antibodies have become an area of serious interest in clinical laboratories, and, as evidenced by the content of recent meetings and publications [1–4], such methods have promise in forensic science.

The analysis of drugs in blood, bile, and tissue with an indirect homogeneous enzyme immunoassay.

The aim of this chapter is to present a short summary of cannabinoid1 chemistry with emphasis on those aspects which have pharmacological relevance. A comprehensive chemical review is beyond the scope of this handbook. Since 1964, when the active principle of cannabis, Δ 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 1-THC), was identified (Gaoni and Mechoulam, 1964a), nearly 5,000 scientific articles on cannabis, Δ 1-THC and other cannabinoids have appeared; approximately 1,000 of these articles are chemically oriented. For this reason alone the present review will have to be selective.

Chemistry of Cannabis

Combined high-pressure liquid chromatography and radio-immunoassay method for the quatitatin of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and some of its metabolites in human plasma

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) procedure is described for the detection and measurement of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in blood, or 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in urine. About 50% of all homicide victims and motor vehicle drivers killed in Bexar County in 1985 were tested for the presence of cannabinoids. Of 130 homicides and 69 drivers tested, blood was analyzed primarily in all but 15 and 3 cases, respectively. In these latter cases, blood analyzed after urine was found to be positive. Of the homicide victims, 44 (34%), and of all drivers, 19 (28%), tested were positive for one or more of the cannabinoids. As a separate group, 16 motorcycle drivers tested had 38% positive as compared with 25% of the other vehicle drivers. Ethyl alcohol was present in 55% of the drivers, and in 63% of the homicide victims. Drugs other than alcohol or cannabinoids were found in 10% of the drivers, and in 12% of the homicide victims.

Arun H. Patel

Papers

Detection of tetrahydrocannabinol in blood and serum using a fluorescent derivative and thin-layer chromatography.