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- Title
A rapid assay provides on-site quantification of tetrahydrocannabinol in oral fluid.
- Authors
Yu, Hojeong; Lee, Hoyeon; Cheong, Jiyong; Woo, Sang Won; Oh, Juhyun; Oh, Hyun-Kyung; Lee, Jae-Hyun; Zheng, Hui; Castro, Cesar M.; Yoo, Yeong-Eun; Kim, Min-Gon; Cheon, Jinwoo; Weissleder, Ralph; Lee, Hakho
- Abstract
keyimage.jpg Quick testing: Several tests have been developed to detect tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, from biological samples. However, current methods have low sensitivity and generally require relatively long time. Now, Yu et al. developed a rapid assay able to detect THC with high sensitivity in minutes from oral fluid. The method, called express probe for on-site cannabis inhalation or EPOCH, was tested in marijuana users and controls. EPOCH was able to detect THC with high sensitivity (compatible with regulatory guidelines) and provided results within 5 min. The half-life of THC in oral fluid was reported to be 1.4 hours. The results demonstrate efficacy and convenience of using EPOCH to monitor THC on site from oral fluids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, impairs cognitive and motor function in a concentration-dependent fashion. Drug testing is commonly performed for employment and law enforcement purposes; however, available tests produce low-sensitive binary results (lateral flow assays) or have long turnaround (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry). To enable on-site THC quantification in minutes, we developed a rapid assay for oral THC analysis called EPOCH (express probe for on-site cannabis inhalation). EPOCH features distinctive sensor design such as a radial membrane and transmission optics, all contained in a compact cartridge. This integrated approach permitted assay completion within 5 min with a detection limit of 0.17 ng/ml THC, which is below the regulatory guideline (1 ng/ml). As a proof of concept for field testing, we applied EPOCH to assess oral fluid samples from cannabis users (n = 43) and controls (n = 43). EPOCH detected oral THC in all specimens from cannabis smokers (median concentration, 478 ng/ml) and THC-infused food consumers. Longitudinal monitoring showed a fast drop in THC concentrations within the first 6 hours of cannabis smoking (half-life, 1.4 hours).
- Subjects
SALIVA; MARIJUANA; TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; COGNITIVE ability; CLINICAL drug trials; DRUG use testing
- Publication
Science Translational Medicine, 2021, Vol 13, Issue 616, p1
- ISSN
1946-6234
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1126/scitranslmed.abe2352