In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of the Roche Kinetic Interaction of Microparticles in Solution (KIMS) screening assay for cannabinoid metabolites. Urine specimens (N = 1689) were collected during elimination of cannabinoids from 25 subjects with a history of marijuana use. Specimens were analyzed concurrently for cannabinoid metabolites by a customized Department of Defense (DOD) cannabinoid KIMS kit (50-ng/mL cutoff) and for 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) by GC-MS (15-ng/mL cutoff). As compared to GC-MS results, the sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of the KIMS assay were 69.7%, 99.8%, and 88.6%, respectively. Many of the false-negative results had GC-MS concentrations between 15 and 26 ng/mL (N = 151). The cannabinoid screening results for the DOD samples tested by the laboratory during the same 8-month period were also evaluated. The linear regression analyses of GC-MS results in the 15-50 ng/mL range and KIMS data resulted in regression coefficients of 0.689 for the research specimens and 0.546 for DOD specimens. The results suggest that the KIMS cannabinoid screening assay is deficient in detecting positives around the cutoff (15-25 ng/mL THC-COOH). This limitation of the KIMS cannabinoid screening method compromises the identification of true positive specimens, therefore reducing the effectiveness of the assay. The success of the DOD program is dependent on sensitive and specific screening assays; the high prevalence of false-negative cannabinoid results compromises the program's primary objective of drug deterrence.

Benzoylecgonine (BZE) extraction from urine was explored using Cerex Polycrom Clin II solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns and the Speedisk 48 Pressure Processor as an alternative to the Prep1 automated sample processor and XTRX Type RP/W columns. Linearity for urine standards extracted using the Cerex-Speedisk method ranged from 20 to 3000 ng/mL. The mean recovery at the 100-ng/mL cutoff for three lots of columns was 92%. The mean of the within-run means for three batches, which had coefficients of variations of 1.8% or less, was 101.3 ng/mL at the 100-ng/mL cutoff level. Forty-six specimens known to contain BZE were analyzed by both the Prep1-Type RP/W and Cerex-Speedisk methods. The correlation for specimen BZE concentrations between the two methods gave an r2 of 0.9999 and a slope of 1.03. The Cerex-Speedisk system is an inexpensive alternative to the Prep1-Type RP/W system. It is less costly, requires little maintenance, has a small footprint, is hood compatible, and can process four times the number of specimens in a given time.

This article examines the positive rate by drug for all urinalysis specimens tested by the U.S. Army from fiscal year 1991 (FY91) to FY00 and for the Army National Guard (NG) from FY97 to FY00. The average positive rate for the Army from FY91 to FY00 was 0.84%. In FY00, the Army rate reached a 10-year high of 1.04%. From FY97 to FY00, the NG positive rate declined from 3.4% to 2.16% but was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the Army rate during the same period. Marijuana and cocaine are the most abused drugs for both the Army and NG. The positive rate for marijuana in the Army from FY91 to FY00 was 0.51%, and the cocaine rate was 0.19%. The NG marijuana-positive rate from FY97 to FY00 was 1.70%, and the cocaine rate was 0.51%. The positive rate for all other drugs of abuse tested was less than 0.3% for both the Army and NG during the same periods. The overall positive rate for the Army and NG are below those estimated (6.3%) in the civilian population.

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Extraction of amphetamine and methamphetamine in urine was investigated using Cerex Polycrom Clin II solid-phase extraction columns and the Speedisk 48 Pressure Processor as a replacement for our liquid-liquid procedure. Linearity for urine standards extracted with the Cerex-Speedisk method ranged from 50 ng/mL for methamphetamine and from 150 ng/mL for amphetamine to 10,000 ng/mL for both. The mean recovery at the 500-ng/mL cutoff for three different lots of columns was 96.4% for AMP and 95.7% for MET. The mean of the within-run means for three batches was 495.4 ng/mL with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.2% or less for amphetamine and 496.4 ng/mL for methamphetamine with a CV of 1.7% or less. Thirty-six specimens containing amphetamine and the same number for methamphetamine were analyzed by both the Cerex-Speedisk and liquid-liquid methods. The correlation for specimens containing amphetamine gave an r2 of 0.9986 with a slope of 0.99; for methamphetamine, the r2 was 0.9997 with a slope of 0.98. The Cerex-Speedisk method cut extraction time in half, was less costly, and greatly reduced the volume of hazardous waste.