UCT’s Clean Screen FASt Column Featured in Newly Validated Method
Cannabis also known as marijuana, weed, or pot is one of the most commonly used substances in the world. The primary constituent of marijuana responsible for its psychoactive effects is Δ9-THC. In 2018 hemp was legalized in the US which resulted in the emergence of CBD and Δ8-THC products. Δ8-THC is psychoactive, but less potent than Δ9-THC. Updated methods are needed to detect the newly emerging cannabis trends. A method was developed using UCT’s Clean Screen FASt for detection of cannabinoids in urine.
500µL of urine was hydrolyzed using an enzyme for 30 minutes at 50°C. A consecutive hydrolysis was performed using 10.0 N sodium hydroxide for 10 minutes at 50°C. After samples were diluted with 500µL of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and filtered through a UCT Clean Screen® FASt column. An aliquot of the collected eluent (1.5mL) was transferred to an autosampler vial for analysis.
Samples were analyzed using a Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex UHPLC equipped with a Waters Acquity BEH Shield RP18 Column.
The method was validated according to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board (AS) Standard 036. Matrix effects and extraction recovery were acceptable, ranging from 94-125% and 75-105% respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was set to 10 ng/mL for all compounds. All precision statistics were also within acceptable limits.
69 authentic samples from female patients were analyzed using the newly validated method. Patients are enrolled in a study assessing the prevalence of marijuana/CBD in use during pregnancy. Δ9-THC-COOH and 11-OH-Δ9-THC were the most frequently detected compounds, 34 and 38 times respectively. Cannabidiol (CBD) was detected in four cases but only quantitated in one.
Clean Screen® FASt is typically used for the analysis of basic drugs from urine however this paper shows how the product can be utilized for THC and its metabolites.
Citation:Ballotari, M., Truver, M. T., Sojin, N. A., Agliano, L. A., Parimoo, R., Hoyer, J. L., Goodin, A. J., Varma, D. S., Chronister, C. W., Roussos-Ross, K., & Goldberger, B. A. (2025). Quantitative analysis of Δ8- and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites and isomers: a rapid assay in urine by LC-MS/MS. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, 10.1007/s00216-025-05738-x. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-05738-x
