Two-Dimensional LC/MS/MS to Reduce Ion Suppression in the Determination of Cannabinoids in Blood Plasma

Sergiou Chernov, Eldan Electronic Instruments, Israel

Cannabinoids in plasma were analyzed after minimal sample pretreatment with a Triple Quadrupole LC/MS. Significant loss of signal compared to analysis of standard solutions was observed in plasma samples. Matrix-related ion suppression could be overcome by using the 2D-LC solution with high-resolution sampling. The setup was tuned to enable simultaneous analysis of the psychoactive THC (Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and metabolites carboxy-THC (THC-COOH) and hydroxyl-THC (THC-OH) in blood plasma.