Confidently characterize THC use

Tailored testing to detect and differentiate

Gold standard testing strategies typically assess for delta-9 carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), the major metabolite of the main psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC, present in urine. However, due to the extended window of detection for THC and the recent emergence of delta-8 THC, another psychoactive cannabinoid synthesized from hemp plants, accurately identifying use and/or cessation presents analytical and medico-legal challenges.1

Delta-8 THC has grown in popularity following adoption of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, which legalized hemp-derived products containing less than .3% of delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC occurs naturally in very small amounts in hemp plants, but is synthesized into ingestible, psychoactive products. These items are not federally regulated and considered legal in most states because they contain less than .3% of delta-9 THC. Delta-9 THC, while legal in some states, remains categorized as a Schedule I compound by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Key testing

THCU  | Delta-8 and Delta-9-Carboxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Confirmation, Random, Urine

  • Measures and separates THC isomers, delta-8 and delta-9 THC-COOH.
  • Useful for accurately characterizing marijuana use.

Accurately characterize marijuana use through urine THC testing

Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., and Loralie Langman, Ph.D., discuss Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ new marijuana monitoring evaluation, which identifies metabolites of both delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and delta-8 THC to accurately identify and characterize patients’ marijuana use.

Learn more

Learn more about how to order these tests at your institution.

References

  1. Helander, A, Johansson, M, Andersson, A, Villén, T. Analytical and medico-legal problems linked to the presence of delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC): Results from urine drug testing in Sweden. Drug Test Anal. 2022; 14(2):371- 376. doi:10.1002/dta.3190