Nicotine saliva tests can detect nicotine or its byproducts in saliva, with over-the-counter tests available for home use. They can be used to verify patient compliance before surgery, track progress in quitting smoking, and study the effects of secondhand smoke. Results can vary between test types or brands.
A nicotine saliva test is a laboratory test used to check for the presence of nicotine or nicotine byproducts in a person’s saliva. There are numerous uses for such tests, ranging from epidemiological studies to drug testing. A number of companies make over-the-counter tests for home use, allowing people to monitor nicotine exposure at home. It is also possible to take a sample of saliva and analyze it in a laboratory for a more sensitive test.
Many of these tests actually test for cotinine, a compound produced as a byproduct of nicotine metabolism. Others test for nicotine or both chemicals. These compounds can take about a week to fully express by the body, and it’s important to be aware of this when testing. Sources of exposure can include tobacco smoke and nicotine replacement products.
One reason to request a nicotine saliva test is to verify that a patient is not smoking. Surgeons often recommend that patients stop smoking for several weeks before surgery to allow chemicals associated with tobacco to be drawn from the body. Some of these chemicals can interfere with post-surgical healing and the test can be used to verify patient compliance. Patients using nicotine replacement products should make sure their surgeons are aware of this because the test will have a positive result.
People trying to quit smoking can use tests to track their progress. Another use for them is to determine how much nicotine someone is imbibing. Everyone smokes differently, and various tobacco products can have different levels of nicotine and other compounds. By conducting empirical tests, researchers can compare this to self-reported results and can also study the effects of secondhand smoke on people who don’t smoke.
A basic nicotine saliva test is quick and painless. A swab is used to collect a sample of saliva from your mouth and is used with a test cartridge for a quick result at home or in the office. Other tests use a test strip designed to react to cotinine. If more precise results are needed, the swab can be placed in a sample container and sent to a laboratory. Blood and urine tests are also available to look at nicotine levels, and these tests may offer greater accuracy. It is important for individuals to use the same test each time with someone receiving multiple tests, as results can vary and results between test types or brands cannot be reliably compared.
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