Tuesday, January 22, 2013

How Lengthy Is Nicotine Traceable

How Long Is Nicotine Traceable?


Nicotine and Cotinine


When nicotine is metabolized by the body, cotinine (the word is an anagram of "nicotine") is formed. Nicotine has a two- to four-hour half-life and is not detectable after 24 hours of use. Its resulting metabolite, cotinine, has a half-life of 16 to 19 hours and is detectable for four to seven days. As such, tests for nicotine use are achieved through tests for cotinine. Heavier use of nicotine results in higher levels of cotinine in the bloodstream and longer detection periods. While the nicotine levels of regular smokers may increase and decrease, cotinine levels are fairly consistent.


Testing Considerations


A 2002 study confirmed that race, certain types of cigarettes, alcohol use and lean body mass affect the body's ability to process cotinine. Specifically, African-American menthol smokers, people with fewer years of alcohol use and those with a lean body mass are more likely to slowly metabolize cotinine. Due to the limitations of the study, race and menthol use were conflated as a single variable and have yet to be studied in depth.


Other Factors


In addition to blood tests, urine and saliva can also be tested for cotinine. Samples left at room temperature for extended periods of time may experience degradation due to bacterial contamination. These forms of testing are more common when tests are administered to the same subjects on a regular basis. Urine levels of cotinine are generally 10 times that of levels in the bloodstream.


Exposure to secondhand smoke results in the metabolizing of nicotine and thus cotinine and can be confirmed by a blood test. The handling and accidental inhalation of tobacco products can also result in traceable levels of nicotine and cotinine.









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