A SIMPLE NEAR-PATIENT TEST FOR NICOTINE AND ITS METABOLITES IN URINE TO ASSESS SMOKING HABIT

We describe a disposable, near-patient urine test to monitor cigarette smoking. A plastic device contains the sealed dried reagents to measu re nicotine and its metabolites by a colorimetric assay. The device ca n be used to give a qualitative assessment of tobacco consumption, sim ply by observing a colour change. Alternatively the test can be quanti fied by measuring the light absorbance with a simple colorimeter, and a concentration of nicotinic metabolites obtained with reference to a cotinine standard. A correction factor for the concentration of the ur ine sample, based on light absorbance, allows the result to be express ed as a ratio to urine concentration. This method correlates with repo rted daily cigarette consumption (r = 0.69, p < 0.0001) and compares f avourably with cotinine, as measured by gas chromatography (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). The method provides a simple-to-use, inexpensive way of mo nitoring tobacco consumption in extralaboratory situations. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science B.V.