Comparison of sample preparation approaches for the extraction of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC from urine

GC/MS is still a mainstay in forensic analysis for drugs of abuse testing in urine. Historically silica-based solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges have been used for these target analytes, the exact choice being dependent on drug functionality. The primary urinary target to prove cannabis using is the metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Clean up for this analyte prior to GC/MS analysis has traditionally been performed using silica-based mixed mode anion exchange SPE cartridges. This poster aims to compare various sample preparation techniques for this analysis. We will aim to compare technique simplicity, streamlined workflow advantages and overall method performance using silica-based mixed-mode SPE, polymer-based SPE, both mixed-mode and reversed phase and supported liquid extraction (SLE). 

Literature number: P219.V.1