Significant developments in radioimmune methods applied to delta 9-THC and its 9-substituted metabolites.

Novel RIA's have been developed for marijuana detection. Modified simple techniques measure the "acute" metabolites in minute saliva, breath, and dried blood samples. Solid purified antibody matches the sensitivity and yields sensitivity values identical to liquid assays. The importance of the polar 9-substituted metabolites (9SM) of THC in acute users is shown by time course data that indicate their levels remain high in the critical post-intoxication period when delta 9-THC clears from the blood. Therefore a single-tube assay using solid-phase reagents was constructed to quantitate simultaneously delta 9-THC and 9SM. When delta 9-THC values are low or questionable in subject samples, 9SM would appear useful to confirm or refute acute marijuana use.