Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Test For Tobacco Within Your Body

Nicotine is, in part, the active addictive ingredient in tobacco.


Testing for tobacco in the human body is actually done by testing for nicotine and/or cotinine. Tobacco itself is difficult to test for and most tests check for the two aforementioned ingredients as they are related to tobacco use. Nicotine is removed from the body within 72 hours, but cotinine stays in the body longer. Cotinine is what the body uses to help metabolize nicotine and is found in the blood, saliva and hair.


Instructions


1. Purchase an at home test kit. A home test is inexpensive and available at most drug stores. The test is based on a urine sample that will detect traces of nicotine. This test will detect if nicotine has been ingested within the last 72 hours. Urine tests can not detect cotinine.


2. Visit a lab. Special equipment will be needed to test for cotinine. Cotinine stays in the body for much longer than nicotine and it can be detected in hair, saliva and blood for up to several weeks. A simple analysis of a hair can determine with some accuracy hen the last tobacco product was used. This type of test is favored by insurance companies. It is inexpensive and results are quick.


3. Utilize the senses; tobacco use leaves clues on the body that can be detected using the senses. Smell the body; the hands and mouth area will have the strongest smell if tobacco has been used. Look at the person; yellow teeth, coughing and weary eyes can all be indicators of tobacco use. These symptoms may also be caused by other things as well, so do not jump to any conclusions.









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