Abstract
This thesis describes the evaluation of methods based on radioimmunoassay (RIA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the development and subsequent evaluation of combined high pressure liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay (HPLC-RIA) and HPLC-fluorescence methods for the detection and quantification of cannabinoids in body fluids. RIA was used to measure levels of cross-reaction in plasma and urine samples obtained from subjects after they had smoked a moderate dose of Delta9-THC. It was possible to distinguish these from blank samples. The GC-MS method was capable of quantifying Delta9-THC in plasma at concentrations down to 1ng/ml. This method was used to measure Delta9-THC concentrations in plasma samples obtained from the Delta9-THC smokers. The HPLC-RIA method was able to quantify several individual cross-reacting cannabinoids in one analysis in either plasma or urine at concentrations as low as 0.1ng/ml. This method was used to measure concentrations of Delta9-THC and its metabolites in both plasma and urine samples obtained from the Delta9-THC smokers. The HPLC-fluorescence method could detect less than 1ng of cannabinol but has not been developed to the stage where other cannabinoids could be detected. Forensic case samples requiring examination for cannabinoid content were analysed with the RIA, GC-MS and HPLC-RIA methods. RIA and HPLC-RIA were found to be suitable methods for the routine analyses of plasma and urine samples.