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Medical Video: How to pass a nicotine test | Nicotine test for Life Insurance
Definition
What is cotinine?
The cotinine test serves to check the concentration of cotinine in the blood. Cotinine is another form of nicotine. Cotinine is formed when nicotine is metabolized by oxidation. Cotonine has a cycle half-life in the body, around 20 hours, and is usually found after smoking for several days to a week. Cotinine is an important indicator presented by cigarette smoke, even in passive smokers, because the amount of cotinine in the blood is proportional to the amount of exposure to cigarette smoke. Continine can be checked through serum, urine, or other biological fluids (for example saliva). Cotinine can be found in urine after smoking for 2-4 days.
The concentration of cotinine in the blood will increase if you consume any tobacco products (cigarettes, oil, dip, suction). Cotinine will also increase due to consuming gum, patches, or nicotine replacement pills. Nicotine concentration can also be estimated in the blood, but only for "Half-life" nicotine (about 2 hours), a very short time. Nicotine metabolism can also be measured in urine.
The concentration of cotinine in saliva and urine is usually small but very easy to take and not expensive. The concentration of cotinine will vary depending on the amount of tobacco, filter, respiration, height, gender, and body weight of the person being tested. Cotinine concentrations may increase if they are passive smokers. Dehydration and kidney function can affect the concentration of cotinine in urine, so that when the cotinine test is performed it also produces creatinine.
When do I have to take cotinine?
The Cotinine test is carried out in the form of a screening test to help someone stop smoking, monitor the effectiveness of treatment, and to determine therapeutic doses. Insurance companies and HR managers also carry out this test to check whether prospective employees are smokers or not. This test is also conducted to determine child custody. When someone participates in a smoking cessation program, a cotinine test will be conducted to assess their compliance.
Because smoking can increase other health risks, this test can be done before bone surgery, spinal brace, wound excision, plastic surgery, and liver transplant surgery.
You might also be advised to do this test if you are nicotine poisoning. The following are symptoms of nicotine poisoning:
- gag
- dizzy
- drooling (drooling)
- weak
The following are more severe symptoms:
- high blood pressure or slowing heart rate
- short breathing or respiratory problems
- tightness in the abdominal wall
- agitation, hyperactivity, or quick temper
- mouth feels burning
- confusion
- fainted
- headache
- seizures
- coma
Prevention & warning
What should I know before undergoing cotinine?
The following are things you should know before taking the test:
- Test results taken from blood, urine, and saliva samples vary and cannot replace each other
- some pesticides may have a higher nicotine content. This substance can be a source of nicotine poisoning
- nicotine is not only found in tobacco, but is also found in some similar plants, such as potatoes, tomatoes, and pepper. However, nicotine concentration in these plants is very small compared to tobacco. Positive test results can determine the high content of nicotine and other things that cause increased nicotine content
- Mint cigarettes can increase serum cotinine concentration because mint causes long-lasting blood cotinine
It is important to understand warnings and precautions before carrying out this test. If you have questions, please ask your doctor for further information.
Process
What should I do before undergoing cotinine?
The doctor will explain the process that helps you reduce anxiety. You have to tell the types of tobacco you consumed last time.
What is the process of cotinine?
Blood test
The doctor takes a blood sample, then puts it in a tube with red or purple marks (with anticoagulant EDTA) or pink lid (antifreeze by K2EDTA).
Urine test
Doctors take your urine sample, at least 10 mL.
The doctor will send this sample to the laboratory.
Saliva test
You must spit your saliva at least 1 mL into the tube.
Sometimes the doctor also puts a special cloth in your mouth for 15 minutes, then sends the cloth to the laboratory.
What should I do after undergoing cotinine?
The sample will be stored in a cold room if it is not possible to transfer it to the laboratory. If you have questions about this process, please ask your doctor for more information.
Explanation of Test Results
What do the test results mean?
| Not a smoker | Passive smokers | Abstinence smoker> 2 weeks | Active smoker | |
| Blood | <2ng / mL | <8ng / mL | <2ng / mL | 200-800 ng / mL |
| Urine | <5ng / mL | <20ng / mL | <50ng / mL | 1000-8000 ng / mL |
| Saliva | <2ng / mL | <8ng / mL | <2ng / mL | 200-800 ng / mL |
Depending on the laboratory of your choice, the normal range of these tests can vary. Discuss the questions you have about the results of your health test with your doctor.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
