Ordering Recommendation

Use to obtain quantitative results or to follow up a presumptive result. For general screening, the preferred test is THC (Cannabinoids), Urine Screen with Reflex to Quantitation (2012270). This test does not distinguish between the delta-8 and delta-9 forms of THC or their metabolites.

New York DOH Approval Status

This test is New York state approved.

Specimen Required

Patient Preparation
Collect

Random urine.

Specimen Preparation

Transfer 1 mL urine with no additives or preservatives to an ARUP standard transport tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature

Room temperature.

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens exposed to repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

Remarks
Stability

Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 1 month; Frozen: 1 Month

Methodology

Quantitative Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Performed

Sun-Sat

Reported

1-5 days

Reference Interval

Effective November 18, 2019

Drugs Covered Cutoff Concentrations
11-Nor-9-carboxy-THC 15 ng/mL

Interpretive Data

Methodology: Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Positive cutoff: 15 ng/mL

For medical purposes only; not valid for forensic use.

The drug analyte detected in this assay, 9-carboxy THC, is a metabolite of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  Detection of 9-carboxy THC suggests use of, or exposure to, a product containing THC.  This test cannot distinguish between prescribed or non-prescribed forms of THC, nor can it distinguish between active or passive use. The 9-carboxy THC metabolite can be detected in urine for several weeks. Normalization of results to creatinine concentration can help document elimination or suggest recent use, when specimens are collected at least one week apart.

Compliance Category

Laboratory Developed Test (LDT)

Note

Compare to Pain Management, Marijuana Metabolite, Quantitative, with medMATCH, Urine; Pain Management, Marijuana Metabolite, with Confirmation with medMATCH, Urine.

Hotline History

N/A

CPT Codes

80349 (Alt code: G0480)

Components

Component Test Code* Component Chart Name LOINC
0090369 11-Nor-9-carboxy-THC, Urn, Quant 3436-3
* Component test codes cannot be used to order tests. The information provided here is not sufficient for interface builds; for a complete test mix, please click the sidebar link to access the Interface Map.

Aliases

  • 9-Carboxy-THC
  • Cannabinoids
  • Cannabis
  • Dronabinol
  • Marijuana
  • Marinol
  • Pain Management
  • THC
THC Metabolite, Urine, Quantitative