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Test Code NCSRY Nicotine Survey, Serum

Useful For

Monitoring tobacco use in a health fair setting

Profile Information

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
NICOS Nicotine and Metabolites, S Yes Yes

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

Nicotine Survey, S

Specimen Type

Serum Red


Necessary Information


Knowledge of time elapsed between last use and specimen collection is important for interpretation of test results.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.8 mL

Collection Instructions: Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Red Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Ambient  28 days
  Frozen  28 days

Reference Values

NICOTINE

<3.0 ng/mL

 

COTININE

<3.0 ng/mL

Interpretation

Serum nicotine concentration in the range of 30 to 50 ng/mL with cotinine in the range of 200 to 800 ng/mL indicates the subject is either actively using a tobacco product or on nicotine replacement therapy.

 

To discriminate if a patient on nicotine replacement therapy is also actively using tobacco products, see NICOU / Nicotine and Metabolites, Random, Urine analysis; the presence of anabasine in urine, a tobacco alkaloid not present in nicotine replacement products, indicates recent tobacco use.

 

Typical findings are as follows:

 

While using a tobacco product:

-Peak nicotine concentration: 30 to 50 ng/mL

-Peak cotinine concentration: 200 to 800 ng/mL*

*Higher values may be seen in subjects with high cytochrome P450 2D6 activity

 

Tobacco user after 2 weeks complete abstinence:

-Nicotine concentration: <3.0 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <3.0 ng/mL

 

Nontobacco user with passive exposure:

-Nicotine concentration: <3.0 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <8.0 ng/mL

 

Nontobacco user with no passive exposure:

-Nicotine concentration: <3.0 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <3.0 ng/mL

Clinical Reference

1. Dale LC, Hurt RD, Hays JT. Drug therapy to aid in smoking cessation. Tips on maximizing patients' chances for success. Postgrad Med 1998;104(6):75-78, 83-84

2. Moyer TP, Charlson JR, Enger RJ, et al. Simultaneous analysis of nicotine, nicotine metabolites, and tobacco alkaloids in serum or urine by tandem mass spectrometry, with clinically relevant metabolic profiles. Clin Chem 2002;48(9):1460-1471

3. Nicotine and cotinine. Testing.com; Updated February 2, 2023. Accessed February 16, 2024. Available at www.testing.com/tests/nicotine-and-cotinine/

4. McGrath-Morrow SA, Gorzkowski J, Groner JA, et al. The effects of nicotine on development. Pediatrics. 2020;145(3):e20191346. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-1346

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

7 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

80323

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
NCSRY Nicotine Survey, S 90226-2

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
21313 Nicotine 3853-9
21314 Cotinine 10365-5

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.