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Reference measurement procedure for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in serum

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Abstract

An isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID-GC/MS) reference measurement procedure for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in serum was developed and validated. The method complies with the concept of a ratio primary reference measurement procedure. The uncertainty was determined for two concentrations of THC in serum (1 ng/mL and 2.4 ng/mL). The calculation procedure is based on the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). The relative expanded uncertainty was found to be less than 2% for both concentration levels, corresponding to a 95% confidence interval. For the reference method, it was shown that the measurement of THC within the concentration range covered by the current threshold values is very accurate. The method has the potential to provide traceability for the methods used in practical forensics.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Jähling, Dr. Rienitz and Mrs. Pape for the performance and analysis of the determination of inorganic impurities. We also thank Mr. Gatzemeier for measuring the densities of the serum samples used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany

    S. Lott, A. Henrion & B. Güttler

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine and Traffic Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Voßstr. 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany

    S. Lott & R. Aderjan

  3. Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    F. Malz

  4. Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    A. Kessler

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  1. S. Lott
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  2. A. Henrion
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  3. F. Malz
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  4. A. Kessler
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  5. B. Güttler
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  6. R. Aderjan
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Correspondence to S. Lott.

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Lott, S., Henrion, A., Malz, F. et al. Reference measurement procedure for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in serum. Anal Bioanal Chem 391, 1003–1010 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2065-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-008-2065-1

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