Automated Extraction and Quantification of Delta 8, 9, and 10 THC Isomers and Metabolites

Analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its isomers is crucial for understanding their pharmacological effects and legal implications of cannabis use, especially in clinical testing, forensic toxicology, and sport antidoping. THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, exists in several isomeric forms, including Δ9, Δ8, and Δ10-THC, each with distinct pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Accurate identification and quantification of these isomers are essential for evaluating impairment, exposure, or intoxication. However, their analysis presents significant challenges due to their chemical similarities, which can result in co-elution during chromatographic separation and difficulty in distinguishing between isomers using traditional analytical methods. In this work, THC isomers and metabolites are extracted from whole blood with the Extrahera sample preparation workstation utilizing the streamlined supported liquid extraction (SLE) technique. In addition, two chromatographic techniques to resolve the THC isomers are presented. The whole blood matrix is selected due to its clinical relevance and complexity to assess the recovery, matrix effect, and RSD of the SLE technique.