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http://dx.doi.org/10.5806/AST.2021.34.6.259

Simultaneous determination of 11-nor-Δ9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-nor-Δ9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol-glucuronide in urine samples by LC-MS/MS and its application to forensic science  

Park, Meejung (Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry, Busan Institute of National Forensic Service)
Kim, Sineun (Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry, Busan Institute of National Forensic Service)
Publication Information
Analytical Science and Technology / v.34, no.6, 2021 , pp. 259-266 More about this Journal
Abstract
Cannabis (Marijuana) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, and its distribution has been controlled in South Korea since 1976. Identification of 11-nor-Δ9-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in urine can provide important proof of cannabis use, and it is considered scientific evidence in the forensic field. In this study, we describe a simultaneous quantitative method for identifying THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide in urine, using simple liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). THCCOOH-D3 and THCCOOH-glucuronide-D3 were used as internal standards. Validation results of the matrix effect, as well as recovery, linearity, precision, accuracy, process efficiency, and stability were all satisfactory. No carryover, endogenous or exogenous interferences were observed. The limit of detection (LOD) of THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide were 0.3 and 0.2 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was applied to 28 authentic human urine samples that tested positive in immunoassay screening and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) tests. The ranges of concentrations of THCCOOH and THCCOOH-glucuronide in the samples were less than LOQ~266.90 ng/mL and 6.43~2133.03 ng/mL, respectively. The concentrations of THCCOOH-glucuronide were higher than those of THCCOOH in all samples. This method can be effectively and successfully applied for the confirmation of cannabinoid use in human urine samples in the forensic field.
Keywords
forensic; cannabinoid glucuronide; LC-MS/MS; LLE;
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