Comparison of the analysis of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol capsules by high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary gas chromatography.

The modification of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system and the development of a capillary gas-chromatographic (GC) system for the analysis of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, encapsulated in soft gelatin capsules, are described. A photodiode array detector was used to evaluate peak homogeneity after each HPLC system modification. Sesame oil was separated from the extract by Sep-Pak filtration prior to GC analysis. Quantitation by both systems had r values greater than 0.999 and R.S.D. values less than 1.0%. Simultaneous capsule assays by both methods agreed within 1%.