Detection of in utero cannabis exposure by umbilical cord analysis

• DOI: 10.1002/dta.2307
• Publication Date: 2017-09-26T01:22:46Z
• Authors: Jiyoung Kim; Ana de Castro; Elena Lendoiro; Angelines Cruz‐La...; Manuel López‐Riva...; Marta Concheiro
• Keywords: Cannabinol; Forensic Toxicology

Abstract According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 5.3% of pregnant women smoked marijuana in past month. This prevalence is expected increase as a growing number states countries are now considering legalization. Although umbilical cord becoming useful objective tool detect utero drug exposure, currently data about analytical methods its utility cannabis exposure scarce. The this work was develop method for determination Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11‐hydroxyTHC (THC‐OH), 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐THC (THCCOOH), 8‐β‐11‐dihydroxyTHC (THC‐diOH), THC THCCOOH glucuronides, cannabidiol (CBD) by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) with dual ionization source. Umbilical samples (0.5 g) were homogenized methanol extracted solid‐phase extraction. Reversed‐phase chromatographic separation performed 14 minutes, 2 transitions per analyte monitored multiple reaction monitoring mode. Method validation included linearity (1–10 20–200 ng/g), precision (4.1%–23.4%), accuracy (87.5%–111.4%), matrix effect (‐54.8% ‐5.8%), extraction efficiency (25%–45.6%), limits detection quantification endogenous (n = 5) or exogenous interferences (not detected). applied 13 authentic from cannabis‐exposed newborns, which meconium had tested positive cannabis. Twelve specimens THCCOOH‐glucuronide (1.6–19.1 ng/g). We developed validated specific sensitive simultaneous THC, metabolites, including CBD LC–MS/MS. analysis showed usefulness exposure.