Different Methods of Nicotine Testing
Nicotine is an addictive substance found in tobacco products – cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco. It badly affects the central nervous system of the user. Consumption of nicotine not only impacts a person’s health but also the performance with regard to his day to day chores. All these factors necessitate the testing of nicotine before undertaking any administrative measure, before selecting for a job, to detect its abuse in children, etc.
Nicotine test, using nicotine test kits, can be conducted at homes, schools, workplaces and at any other place wherever required.
At homes: You can administer a nicotine test on any person – your kid, spouse or anyone else at home to identify the nicotine abuse. The advantage of testing at home is that you can perform the test on yourself or your loved ones, confidentially. Besides, these methods enable easy collection of samples and give quick and accurate test results.
At schools: These days some schools are insisting on drug testing especially for teens below 18. If they suspect student tobacco use, they can confirm using these tests. These tests help in detecting tobacco users and preventing nicotine abuse by school students.
At workplace: Though some people think that testing for nicotine violates the privacy of individuals, some organizations insist on nicotine testing as a matter of routine activity at the entry level, or once they get into the organization. Also, certain State and Federal laws make it mandatory for drug test including nicotine test.
There are different sorts of test kits available in the market. These kits help you conduct the test as per your convenience without having to see a medical professional.
Different methods
There are different methods of nicotine testing – urine, saliva, hair and blood tests. The method you choose depends upon the place where you want to test, the person you want to test, gender, etc. It also depends on the cost effectiveness of the technique and operational ease.
Urine tests: Urine tests for detecting nicotine involve the detection of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine gets converted in to cotinine in the body and is eliminated through urine. Cotinine stays up to 2-4 days in the body after consumption. Hence, it is advised to conduct the test within this period. The advantage of urine test is that it is quick, accurate, and inexpensive.
Saliva test: Saliva test is another method to detect nicotine in a suspect. Saliva test can detect nicotine up to 2 to 4 days. Saliva drug testing is best suited for shorter detection periods. It is bit expensive than urine testing, but cheaper than hair testing method. The sample collection for this test is easy.
Hair test: Hair test method is the most effective method to detect nicotine in a person’s body. Hair sample allows detection of nicotine up to several months. Although it is fast and accurate, it is the costliest method of detecting nicotine use.
Blood test: Blood tests can detect the presence of nicotine in one’s body up to 7 days after use. But these tests are not that effective, as nicotine gets converted into cotinine very quickly and is continuously eliminated through urine, thus leaving slight traces in blood. Moreover, the blood tests have to be performed only under medical supervision.
Despite so many effective methods of nicotine testing, it is important that the person who is put to test be honest in offering the test samples. If it is deliberately manipulated, you get a misleading impression of the person.
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