Electrochemical Sensor for Rapid Detection of Tetrahydrocanabinol (THC) in Saliva

Samuel Mugo, Physical Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada
Qiang Zhang , Chemistry, University Of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Michael Serpe, Chemistry, University Of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Darren Berg, Physical Sciences, Macewan University, Edmonton, Canada

The imminent decriminalization of Marijuana in Canada, like other jurisdictions such as Washington and Colorado, USA, will require reliable detectors for regulating its use. The bioactive drug in marijuana is tetrahydrocanabinol (THC). Which causes various physical effects such as slow reaction time, dizziness and short term memory loss depending on dosage. As such, there is a concern and need to regulate marijuana use for motorists and people operating machinery in work places to societal problems associated with that. 

Current methods of analysis for THC for quantification are done in lab setting, requiring bulky, expensive equipment for and lengthy analysis, impractical for immediate information needed by security enforcing officers. Analogous to alcohol breathalyzers, our goal is to fabricate a portable devices capable for immediate detection of THC and easy to use for officers. 

In the talk, I will demonstrate our inexpensive portable detection device for THC in saliva, a non-invasive biological fluid. The device is based on the use molecularly imprinted polymer receptors with specific recognition to THC with electrochemical transduction. The detection range of the device can detect linear range of THC within 50-1000 ng/mL present in saliva following marijuana inhalation.