Nicotine is an addictive chemical found in the tobacco plant and concentrated in its leaves. It is inhaled with each puff on a cigarette and ingested with chewing tobacco. Nicotine is metabolised by the liver into more than 20 compounds, which are removed by the kidneys into the urine. Tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke can increase nicotine concentrations in the body. Cotinine is the body’s main breakdown…Nicotine is an addictive chemical found in the tobacco plant and concentrated in its leaves. It is inhaled with each puff on a cigarette and ingested with chewing tobacco. Nicotine is metabolised by the liver into more than 20 compounds, which are removed by the kidneys into the urine. Tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke can increase nicotine concentrations in the body. Cotinine is the body’s main breakdown product (metabolite) of nicotine. Cotinine and nicotine levels also rise with use of nicotine replacement products such as nicotine patches, gums and e-cigarette liquids. Nicotine is poisonous in large amounts. Cotinine is usually the best test to check for tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke because it lasts longer in the body and is only produced when nicotine is metabolised. Cotinine has a half-life in the body of between 7 and 40 hours, while nicotine has a half-life of 1 to 4 hours. Blood and/or urine cotinine tests are usually requested instead of nicotine tests. The presence of nicotine and/or cotinine in an individual’s sample may indicate the use of tobacco products or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Testing may be used in a number of situations to evaluate the possible use of tobacco products such as in smoking cessation programs, prospective employment assessments and evaluations of applicants for health or life insurance. Nicotine and cotinine testing may also be requested in cases of suspected nicotine poisoning. Acute overdoses of nicotine, such as may happen if a child ingests nicotine lozenges or gum, are relatively rare but generally require immediate medical attention. Symptoms can include a burning mouth, feeling sick, abdominal pain, salivating (drooling), diarrhoea, sweating, confusion, dizziness, agitation, increased heart rate, rapid or difficult breathing, convulsions, coma, and even death. How is the sample collected for testing? A random urine sample is collected, or a blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm. Occasionally a saliva sample may be obtained directly or by soaking a collecting cloth or swab with saliva. Rarely a hair sample may be collected. Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample? No test preparation is needed. See MoreSee Less
