Full Spectral GC/MS Identification of Δ9-Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannibinol in Urine with the Finnigan ITS40

Abstract

The Finnigan MAT ITS40 GC/MS permits the accurate full mass spectral identification and reproducible quantitation of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-carboxy-THC) in urine. Positive identification of 9-carboxy-THC is based on full mass spectral cutoff criteria whose fit value is 900. The fit value is generated from a statistically significant correlation comparison of the targeted unknown against an authentic 9-carboxy-THC standard, whose mass spectrum has been generated on the ITS40. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) are 2.5 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively, using 5 mL of urine. The quantitative linear dynamic range of the assay is greater than two orders of magnitude, ranging from 5 to 1,000 ng/mL.