Main topic : Food Safety

Cannabinoids screen in animal specimens by UPLC-MS/MS: In-house validation and single-laboratory blinded method test (BMT)

MAGNIN G. ¹, ENSLEY S. ¹, COETZEE H. ¹, TKACHENKO A. ², GUAG J. ²

¹ Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States; ² Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, United States

Introduction
Cannabis sativa, including hemp and cannabis plants, contains more than 113 cannabinoids. Among them, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC) is the major psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. Hemp contains predominantly the non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CDB) and less than 0.3% of 9-THC (dry weight). Because of the increased human consumption of cannabis products for therapeutic or recreational uses, pets are more susceptible to the exposure of 9-THC toxicity. In addition, following the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp uses as an agricultural commodity to feed livestock has increased. Very little is known about the pharmacokinetic and tissue residues of cannabinoids following oral administration in bovine. So, whether it is for diagnostic purpose or research, there is a need to have a sensitive screen for cannabinoids in animal specimens.
Method

We decided to develop sensitive analytical methods to screen for cannabinoids in bovine specimens, including plasma, urine, and tissues. Sample clean-up procedures and analysis in animal plasma by UPLC-MS/MS are presented. Plasma samples are clean-up by solid-phase extraction on 96-well plate and cannabinoids are analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. Following the in-house validation, the method is shared with Vet-LIRN (Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network) to. Blinded samples prepared by Vet-LIRN are analyzed by the method originating (MO) lab. Data generated for this single-laboratory blinded method test (BMT) are then shared with Vet-LIRN for evaluation.

Results

BMT data on bovine plasma are presented and confirmed that out of 21 cannabinoids, 17 can be quantitated and 4 can be semi-quantitated with a high degree of confidence at concentrations up to 100 ng/mL.

Conclusion
The method is used to perform a pharmacokinetic study following the oral administration of hemp to cattle.¹ Methods are also developed in others specimen (tissues). The analysis of cannabinoids in plasma is also important from a toxicology point of view. It allows to test animals intoxicated with cannabis products and treat them appropriately. ²