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Protocol - Biomarker of exposure to nicotine-containing products - Saliva

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Description

This is the laboratory protocol for measuring salivary cotinine. It is used to screen for smoking status and to estimate exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS).

A biospecimen is collected from the respondent to measure cotinine, a marker of either smoking or environmental tobacco smoke exposure. One of the most common methods of collection is via a urine sample obtained from the respondent.

Specific Instructions

The gold standard to measure cotinine levels is blood. Collection of saliva is less invasive and saliva and blood levels of cotinine are highly correlated. Choosing saliva over serum or plasma is based on convenience for investigator, no need for phlebotomist, no pain for subjects, and can be collected at home and mailed to the researcher.

The TRRP recommends oral suctioning infants and toddlers for saliva if a sample is needed for cotinine measurement. The TRRP also recommends continuing collection until at least 2-3 ml of saliva (excluding foam) have been collected, marking the tubes with a line to which the saliva should be collected.

Availability

Available

Protocol

Collect saliva by having subjects expectorate into a vial while stimulating saliva flow with one of the three methods employed in previous studies: (a) sucking on a lemon candy, (b) dissolving a sugar cube in the mouth, or (c) chewing on parafilm. Approximately 2-3 minutes is required to collect each saliva sample.

Concentrations of cotinine determined by capillary gas

chromatography with nitrogen ± phosphorus detection, 11 using 1-methyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-pyrrolidin- 2-one (ª ortho-cotinineº) as the internal standard.

Personnel and Training Required

Training on saliva collection and shipping techniques.

Equipment Needs

Saliva collection and shipping kits.

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training Yes
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Bioassay

Lifestage

Child, Adolescent, Adult, Senior, Pregnancy

Participants

All participants who can provide a saliva sample.

Selection Rationale

Saliva is easy to obtain through a non-invasive method and was chosen for this reason. Collection of saliva is less invasive and saliva and blood levels of cotinine are highly correlated. Choosing saliva over serum or plasma is based on convenience for investigator, no need for phlebotomist, no pain for subjects, and can be collected at home and mailed to the researcher.

Language

English

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

Schneider, NG, et al. Saliva cotinine levels as a function of collection method. Addiction, 1997

Source

Schneider NG, Jacob P, Nilsson F, Leischow S, Benowitz N, and Olmstead R. Saliva cotinine levels as a function of collection method. Addiction (1997): 92(3): 347-351.

Rose J, Levin E, and Benowitz N. Saliva Nicotine as an Index of Plasma Levels in Nicotine Skin Patch Users. Therapeutic Drug monitoring. 1993; 15: 431-435.

General References

Avila-Tang E, Al-Delaimy WK, Ashley DL, Benowitz N, Bernert JT, Kim S, Samet JM, Hecht SS. (2013). Assessing secondhand smoke using biological markers. Tob Control, 22(3): 164-871.

Breimer DD, Danhof M. Saliva: a fluid for measuring drug concentrations. Pharm Int 1980: 1:9-11.

Jacob P, Wilson M, Benowitz, N. Improved gas chromatographic method for the determination of nicotine and cotinine in biologic fluids. J Chromatogr 1981: 222: 61-70.

Jacob P, Yu, L., Duan, M., Ramos, LI., Yturralde, O., and Benowitz, N.L. (2011). Determination of the nicotine metabolites cotinine and trans-3’-hydroxycotinine in biologic fluids of smokers and non-smokers using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Biomarkers for tobacco smoke exposure and for phenotyping cytochrome P460 2A6 activity. Journal of Chromatography B, 879: 267-276.

Pirkle, J. L., Flegal, K. M., Bernert, J. T., Brody, D. J., Etzel, R. A., & Maurer, K. R. (1996). Exposure of the US population to environmental tobacco smoke. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 to 1991. JAMA, 275, 1233-124

Rose JE, Herskovice JE, Trilling Y, Jarvik ME. Transdermal nicotine reduces cigarette craving and nicotine preference. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1985; 38: 450-6.

St. Helen, G., Novalen, M., Heitjan, D.F. (2012). Reproducibility of the Nicotine Metabolite Ratio in Cigarette Smokers. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 21(7) 1105-1114.

Protocol ID

91702

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX091702000000 Protocol 091702 - proprietary. Check DCW for more
contact. show less
N/A
Respiratory
Measure Name

Biomarker of exposure to nicotine-containing products

Release Date

November 28, 2017

Definition

Cotinine is a major metabolite of nicotine and is an indicator of exposure to nicotine from tobacco or other nicotine containing products.

Purpose

To assess smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure by measuring cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. To screen for tobacco use and quantity and to estimate exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and all tobacco exposure. Also used as an outcome measure in smoking cessation trials to determine if an individual has quit smoking.

Keywords

cotinine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES, Respiratory

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
91701 Biomarker of exposure to nicotine-containing products - Urine
91702 Biomarker of exposure to nicotine-containing products - Saliva
91703 Biomarker of exposure to nicotine-containing products - Serum
Publications

Krebs, N. M., et al. (2016) Comparison of Puff Volume With Cigarettes per Day in Predicting Nicotine Uptake Among Daily Smokers. Am J Epidemiol. 2016 July; 184(1): 48-57. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv341