Cannabinoid stability in authentic oral fluid collected by expectoration and with the Quantisal™ device after controlled cannabis smoking

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 — Poster Session II
Noon – 2:00 p.m	Natcher Conference Center, Building 45	NIDA	CLIN/TRANS-15

Authors

• D Lee
• G Milman
• D.M. Schwope
• A.J. Barnes
• D.A. Gorelick
• M.A. Huestis

Abstract

Defining cannabinoid stability in authentic oral fluid (OF) is critically important for result interpretation. An expectorated OF pool and a pool of OF collected with Quantisal™ devices were prepared for each of 10 participants. ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN) stability in 10 authentic expectorated and Quantisal-collected OF pools were determined after storage at 4°C for 1 and 4 wks and at -20°C for 4 and 24 wks. All Quantisal OF cannabinoids were stable for 1 wk at 4°C. After 4 wks at 4°C, as well as 4 and 24 wks at -20°C, THC was stable in 90, 80, and 80% and THCCOOH in 89, 40, and 50% of Quantisal samples, respectively. Cannabinoids in expectorated OF were less stable than in Quantisal samples when refrigerated or frozen. After 4 wks at 4 and -20°C, CBD and CBN were stable in 33-100% of Quantisal and expectorated samples; by 24 wks at -20°C, CBD and CBN were stable in ≤44%. Cannabinoid OF stability varied by analyte, collection method, storage duration and temperature, and across participants. OF collection with a device containing an elution/stabilization buffer, sample storage at 4°C, and analysis within 4 wks is preferred to maximize quantification accuracy.

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