Quantitation of tetrahydrocannabinol in hair using immunoassay and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection.

A quantitative analytical procedure for the determination of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in hair has been developed and validated using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectral detection (LC-MS/MS). Specimens that were determined as containing cannabinoids following immunoassay testing were quantified using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatographic separation and tandem mass spectral detection in positive electrospray ionization mode. For confirmation, two transitions were monitored and one ratio determined. Samples being reported as positive were required to have both transitions present, the ratio of quantifying transition to qualifying transition being within 20% of that determined from known calibration standards. The limit of quantitation and the limit of detection was 10 pg/mg. The percentage recovery of the THC from hair at 20 pg/mg was 56% and a matrix effect of the hair showed an ion suppression percentage of -51%. The immunochemical screening method was performed following a rapid aqueous extraction, requiring only 10 mg of hair; the confirmatory procedure required 20 mg of hair. The methods were applied to proficiency specimens from the Society of Hair Testing, which had been received in August 2008.