Hound Labs, Inc. Announces Results from Second Clinical Study with the University of California, San Francisco

Data confirms Hound Labs solution has the ability to capture unprecedented low levels of THC in breath

OAKLAND, Calif. – February 27, 2019 – Hound Labs, Inc., a leader in the field of breath diagnostics, today announced the results of its second clinical study with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in which researchers measured THC¹ in breath. Results from this landmark study confirm – for the first time in a clinical study – that THC is present in breath for two to three hours after smoking. The study also concluded that detecting THC in breath for two to three hours requires the capability to measure complex molecules in breath at extraordinarily low levels – to one trillionth of a gram per liter of breath (pg/L). Using the HOUND^® CANNABIS BREATHALYZER to collect breath samples, UCSF researchers confirmed that this ultra-sensitive technology is capable of capturing THC in breath in picograms (parts per trillion), demonstrating that a breathalyzer can capture such low concentrations.

“The ability to capture breath and measure such low concentrations of molecules represents a significant breakthrough and we hope to continue to collaborate with Hound Labs on clinical studies to advance the field of breath diagnostics.”

– Dr. Kara Lynch, UCSF

This is the second clinical study using Hound Labs’ breath capture technology conducted at UCSF by Dr. Kara Lynch, co-director of the Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory at San Francisco General Hospital and Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine at UCSF. The latest study measured the breath of 20 participants over the course of three hours, sampling each participant’s breath a total of nine times. Participants included men and women who are frequent and infrequent marijuana smokers. Results from the second study build on the findings of the first clinical study conducted with UCSF by quantifying the ultra-low sensitivity needed to measure THC in breath at one pg/L in order to measure recent marijuana use two to three hours after smoking.

“In our studies, we discovered that THC rapidly moves from blood into breath and consistently appears in breath in very low concentrations for two to three hours,” said Dr. Lynch. “The ability to capture breath and measure such low concentrations of molecules represents a significant breakthrough and we hope to continue to collaborate with Hound Labs on clinical studies to advance the field of breath diagnostics.”

“After years of research and development, we are excited to have validated the Hound science and technology that will advance our collective understanding of THC in breath.”

– Dr. Mike Lynn, CEO and co-founder of Hound Labs

Hound Labs created the first marijuana breathalyzer for employer and law enforcement use. This marks the first time a handheld solution has the sensitivity required to determine recent marijuana use. Legacy methods for testing THC in blood, urine, and saliva do not differentiate recent marijuana use from past use because THC can remain long after safety-impacting effects subside. Breath, on the other hand, was shown in the UCSF clinical study to contain THC only for two to three hours.

“In order to solve the challenge of determining recent marijuana use, we spent five years developing new technology that enables unparalleled low levels of detection,” said Dr. Mike Lynn, CEO and Co-Founder of Hound Labs. “We have been testing this technology in collaboration with one of the world’s premier research universities. After years of research and development, we are excited to have validated the Hound science and technology that will advance our collective understanding of THC in breath.”

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¹ THC is the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis.

² April 2014 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drugs and Human Performance Fact Sheet”.

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About Hound Labs

Hound Labs, Inc. develops advanced breath testing technologies to address leading public health and safety issues. The Company’s flagship product is the HOUND^® CANNABIS BREATHALYZER, an ultra-sensitive, analytical test that identifies active THC molecules in breath. Breath testing introduces the drug testing industry’s shortest cannabis detection window, giving employers a practical and objective solution to detect and deter recent use. By limiting cannabis detection to use occurring before or during the workday, test results empower employers to maintain safe workplaces, improve hiring and retention efforts, and maintain fairness in the workforce. Founded in 2014, Hound Labs is headquartered in Fremont, California. Benchmark, EEC, Icon Ventures, Intrinsic Capital Partners, NFP Ventures, Tuatara Capital, and individual investors have funded the Company. Learn more at HoundLabs.com and follow us on LinkedIn @HoundLabs, Inc.

Media Release updated in May 2022 to reflect naming changes from “trial” to “study”