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Feb 5, 2019 | Blogs, Forensic | 0 comments
Do you want a more efficient workflow for the forensic analysis of THC-COOH in hair samples? Yes! Do we know a simple, highly sensitive technique? You bet! Read on to find out how you can detect THC-COOH in hair down to 0.2 pg/mg trace concentration levels with excellent accuracy (>95%) and precision (<15%).
Marijuana is the most widely used recreational drug in the world, with reported users as high as 234.1 million worldwide. Forensic toxicology labs face the task of testing hundreds of thousands of samples every year to identify drug misuse in relation to a range of civil and criminal investigations, such as intoxicated driving investigations, child custody cases, sexual assault cases, and parole abstinence monitoring.
The presence of the main marijuana metabolite – THC-COOH – can be detected in urine, blood, and saliva and indicate active drug use. While these biological fluids are valuable in determining use in the short term, hair testing offers an advantage due to its larger detection window. Consequently, for accurate detection of long-term cannabis use (up to 90 days), hair samples are far more reliable sources and are widely accepted in criminal and civil courts.
However, using hair for detecting cannabis does provide its own analytical challenges. Firstly, the concentration of THC-COOH in hair samples is characteristically low, and secondly, there is a high abundance of matrix interferences that specifically impact the detection of THC-COOH.
Efficient Workflow. Sensitive Detection. Accurate Results.As you probably know, our team love an analytical challenge; things around here wouldn’t be the same without them! And so, we have pleasure in presenting an efficiently designed analysis approach that gives accurate results. Our workflow combines the TripleQuad™ 4500 LC-MS/MS System with a solid phase extraction procedure that allows the reliable and sensitive detection of THC-COOH at trace levels (0.2 pg/mg) in hair matrix.
Find the complete technote, ‘Efficiently Designed Workflows Provide Accurate Results in Forensic Analysis of THC-COOH in Hair Samples’ in our Forensics Compendium, fill out the form on your right to download it today.
Without giving too much away in this blog, we wanted to share the top three highlights:
This workflow for the forensic analysis of THC-COOH in hair samples is ready to be integrated into your forensic toxicology laboratory. You will experience more accurate results with a more efficient workflow designed to support optimum throughput and sensitivity.
To find out more download the full technote, by filling out the form on your right, today.
Regulated laboratories are evolving faster than ever. New analytical modalities, higher sample throughput, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and leaner teams are reshaping how work gets done. At the same time, expectations for data integrity, standardization, and operational efficiency continue to increase complexity and/or scope. In this environment, LC-MS software is no longer simply an instrument control platform—it has become a critical part of a laboratory’s quality management system. The question is no longer whether your lab has changed, but whether your software has evolved to support the way regulated labs operate today, and if they are ready and able to meet the demands, they will face tomorrow.
Analyst software has long been a trusted foundation in regulated LC-MS laboratories—and for many, it still performs reliably today. But regulated environments are evolving faster than ever. As labs transition to Windows 11, strengthen cybersecurity policies, modernize IT infrastructure, and prepare for future compliance expectations, software decisions are no longer just about what works today—they’re about managing tomorrow’s risk. Analyst will not be supported on Windows 11. While some labs may continue operating in unsupported environments temporarily, the bigger question is: when that risk becomes reality, will your lab be reacting under pressure—or executing a planned mitigation strategy with confidence?
As regulatory scrutiny increases and detection requirements tighten, laboratories are facing a new question: How can TFA be measured reliably, sensitively, and at scale?
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