Nicotine addiction is very much common in the U.S. Nicotine is inhaled with a puff of cigarette and by ingestion through chewing tobacco. The use of tobacco and its exposure increases the levels of nicotine in the body. Nicotine is converted to a metabolite named cotinine. The level of cotinine is tested from the sample during nicotine testing. Nicotine can stay in the body for 1-4 hours whereas cotinine stays between 7 and 40 hours. Nicotin-1'-N-oxide, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, or nornicotine or other chemicals of tobacco such as anabasine may be detected along with cotinine in urine.
The presence of cotinine in a person's sample indicates the usage of tobacco or exposure to environmental its smoke. The nicotine test is conducted using different samples such as urine, saliva, blood, and hair.
Urine Test:
The concentration of cotinine is detected in urine. The urine test detects the compound for 4 days after the usage. In this method cotinine is used as a biomarker as the half life of it is greater than that of other metabolites. The cut-off level of concentration for the test is 200ng/ml. So if the concentration of cotinine is greater than 200ng/ml, then the test result would be positive.
Blood Test:
Blood test is the common way of performing nicotine test. As the nicotine is not remained in blood for a long time, the presence of metabolic by-products are checked in the test. The test determines the byproducts upto 3 weeks after smoking or the consumption of tobacco.
Saliva Test:
Saliva tests are able to detect nicotine and cotinine. This is an inexpensive and a non-invasive method of testing nicotine. The saliva detects the compounds upto 7 to 10 days after consumption. Saliva test is conducted by placing a swab inside the mouth of an individual and it is difficult to adulterate the results. Usage of saliva test kits at home is in prevalence.
Hair Test:
Hair test is conducted to detect the compounds in the hair shaft. This is the most accurate form of tests of nicotine as the test is done through most advanced laboratory techniques. Using this method nicotine can be detected for upto 90 days before the test. It is an effective method of testing but is expensive and hence it is not feasible for certain organizations.
The presence of cotinine in a person's sample indicates the usage of tobacco or exposure to environmental its smoke. The nicotine test is conducted using different samples such as urine, saliva, blood, and hair.
Urine Test:
The concentration of cotinine is detected in urine. The urine test detects the compound for 4 days after the usage. In this method cotinine is used as a biomarker as the half life of it is greater than that of other metabolites. The cut-off level of concentration for the test is 200ng/ml. So if the concentration of cotinine is greater than 200ng/ml, then the test result would be positive.
Blood Test:
Blood test is the common way of performing nicotine test. As the nicotine is not remained in blood for a long time, the presence of metabolic by-products are checked in the test. The test determines the byproducts upto 3 weeks after smoking or the consumption of tobacco.
Saliva Test:
Saliva tests are able to detect nicotine and cotinine. This is an inexpensive and a non-invasive method of testing nicotine. The saliva detects the compounds upto 7 to 10 days after consumption. Saliva test is conducted by placing a swab inside the mouth of an individual and it is difficult to adulterate the results. Usage of saliva test kits at home is in prevalence.
Hair Test:
Hair test is conducted to detect the compounds in the hair shaft. This is the most accurate form of tests of nicotine as the test is done through most advanced laboratory techniques. Using this method nicotine can be detected for upto 90 days before the test. It is an effective method of testing but is expensive and hence it is not feasible for certain organizations.
No comments:
Post a Comment