Abstract
According to the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the use of cannabinoids is forbidden in competition. In doping controls, the detection of cannabinoid misuse is based on the analysis of the non-psychoactive metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (carboxy-THC). The determination of values greater than 15 ng/mL in urine represents an adverse analytical finding; however, no accurate prediction of the time of application is possible as the half-life of carboxy-THC ranges between three and four days. Consequently the detection of carboxy-THC in doping control urine samples collected in competition might also result from cannabis use in out-of-competition periods. The analysis of the glucuronide of the pharmacologically active delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-gluc) may represent a complementary indicator for the detection of cannabis misuse in competition.An assay for the determination of THC-gluc in human urine was established. The sample preparation consisted of liquid-liquid extraction of urine specimens, and extracts were analysed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Authentic doping-control urine samples as well as specimens obtained from a controlled smoking study were analysed and assay characteristics such as specificity, detection limit (0.1 ng/mL), precision (>90%), recovery ( approximately 80%), and extraction efficiency (90%) were determined.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Drug testing and analysis |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 11-12 |
Pages (from-to) | 505-510 |
Number of pages | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 01.11.2009 |
Research areas and keywords
- Chromatography, Liquid
- Doping in Sports
- Dronabinol
- Glucuronides
- Humans
- Marijuana Smoking
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Substance Abuse Detection
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry
- Time Factors