ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Incidence of Psychoactive Cannabinoids in Drivers Killed in Motor Vehicle Accidents
Gerostamoulos, J
Postgraduate Student in Forensic Medicine, Assistant Director (Scientific Services) and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Forensic Medicine, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victoria

Drummer, OH
Postgraduate Student in Forensic Medicine, Assistant Director (Scientific Services) and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Forensic Medicine, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victoria

(Received 15 June 1992; accepted 10 September 1992)

Abstract

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed for the psychoactive cannabinoids Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-Hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) using electrochemical detection (ECD). A C8 bonded column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile, methanol and 0.01 M sulphuric acid at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The detection limits for both THC and 11-OH-THC were 1.0 ng/mL. Preliminary screening of 193 drivers using an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) showed 21 tested positive on either blood, urine or both. Of these subjects 13 were confirmed as positive by the HPLC/ECD method in blood. Blood concentrations for THC ranged from 1.4 ng/mL up to 20 ng/mL and for 11-OH-THC 2.5 ng/mL up to 85 ng/mL.

Keywords:
toxicology, HPLC, psychoactive cannabinoids, THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, marijuana

Paper ID: JFS13451J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13451J
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