ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1983
Page Count: 6

Measurement of Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Whole Blood Samples from Impaired Motorists
Zimmermann, EG
Director, Sleep Disorders Clinic, Departments of Anatomy and Neurology, Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, CA

Yeager, EP
Receptor Research Institute, CA

Soares, JR
School of Medicine, University of California, CA

Hollister, LE
Veterans Administration Hospital, CA

Reeve, VC
CA

(Received 28 April 1981; accepted 19 January 1983)

Abstract

The major psychoactive cannabinoid in marihuana, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) was measured in 1792 randomly selected blood specimens from erratic motorists arrested for impairment who submitted to blood alcohol sampling. Of these specimens, 14.4% were positive for THC (5.5 ng/mL). In those erratic driver specimens negative for alcohol THC positives rose to 23%. Drivers who used marihuana covered a broad age range. Aliquots of hemolyzed blood (10 μL) were analyzed by a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) not requiring extraction. RIA accuracy and specificity were validated by gas liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GLC/MS) split pair analysis (correlation coefficient = 0.93). This initial experience should facilitate and amplify a program designed to set forth the epidemiology of marihuana use in motorists and possible behavioral correlates.

Keywords:
toxicology, marihuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, driving (motor vehicle operation), radioimmunoassay, impairment

Paper ID: JFS11604J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11604J
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