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Abstract |
Applications of a Near-Patient Test for the Determination of Nicotine and its Metabolites in Urine |
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The biochemical measurement of nicotinic metabolites is increasing in the research and treatment of smokingrelated diseases. We developed a disposable, 6-minute near-patient urine test to identify and monitor cigarette smoking. A plastic device containing sealed dried reagents measures nicotine and its breakdown products by a colorimetric assay. The device can be used visually to give a qualitative or semi-quantitative assessment of tobacco consumption, or else can be quantified by measuring light absorbance with a simple colorimeter, and comparison to a cotinine standard. A colour chart was developed to allow visual semi-quantitative assessment. The results compared favourably with quantitative assessment on parallel urine samples (n = 167, r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). These methods correlate with reported daily cigarette consumption and compare favourably with cotinine, as measured independently by gas chromatography. The test has many applications. It has been used to verify smoking habit as recorded by self-report in diabetes (n = 179). The test results correlated with reported cigarette consumption (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001) and identified a deception rate of 5.1%. The test has also been used as an educational tool to improve smoking cessation during pregnancy, and to monitor baseline smoking and therapeutic levels during nicotine replacement therapy. The test also provides a suitable inexpensive kit for laboratory verification in epidemiological studies. |
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