Breath carbon monoxide and semiquantitative saliva cotinine as biomarkers for smoking

✍ Scribed by Gina F. Marrone; Mane Paulpillai; Rebecca J. Evans; Edward G. Singleton; Stephen J. Heishman

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 61 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.1078

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Objective

As a biomarker of smoking, semiquantitative analysis of cotinine (NicAlert®) offers several advantages over breath carbon monoxide (CO) and quantitative analysis of cotinine. Recent studies have used urine NicAlert® and breath CO in combination to verify abstinence. However, no studies have evaluated the performance of saliva NicAlert® against or in combination with breath CO.

Method

Breath CO, saliva NicAlert®, and smoking history were compared in an urban population of daily smokers (n = 24) and nonsmokers (n = 25).

Results

Saliva NicAlert® predicted self‐reported smoking with 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity. At a cutoff of > 5 ppm, breath CO had 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in predicting self‐reported smoking. Breath CO was positively correlated with saliva NicAlert® and negatively correlated with minutes since last cigarette.

Conclusion

Saliva NicAlert® had high sensitivity and specificity in identifying daily smokers. Compared to saliva NicAlert®, breath CO level was more indicative of recent smoking. Future treatment studies should evaluate the performance of saliva NicAlert® as an alternative to the urine test. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.