| Synonyms |
| Cotinine, Nicotine |
| SPECIMEN REQUIREMENTS |
|
| Container Type |
| Red top tube (plain) |
| Supply Item Number |
| 1372 |
| Specimen Type |
| Serum |
| Preferred Volume |
| 1 mL |
| Emergency Minimum Volume |
| 0.5 mL |
| Specimen Processing |
| Separate serum from cells within 2 hours and transfer to a standard PAML aliquot tube. |
| Store and Transport |
| Refrigerated |
| Stability |
| Room Temp 1 week Refrigerated 1 week Frozen (-20 °C) 4 weeks |
| Unacceptable Condition |
| Whole blood or grossly hemolyzed specimens |
| Alternate Specimens |
| Serum or plasma separator tubes |
| Limitations |
| If testing is to be delayed by more than 1 week, specimens should be stored frozen for up to 1 month prior to being tested. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing of the specimen. NOTE: Samples sitting in gel SST for prolonged times may reduce drug concentrations significantly. |
| Reference Laboratory |
| PAML |
| Reference Lab Test Code |
| LCA code 910974 |
| CPT Codes |
| 80307 |
| Interface Order Code |
| 80302.Z1 |
| Billing Code |
| COTQ |
| Test Schedule |
| Tue, Fri |
| Turnaround Time |
| 1-5 days |
| Method |
| Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay |
| Reference Ranges |
| Title | Descriptor | Ranges | Units | | Cotinine | Daily Smokers | > 100 | ng/mL | | Light Smokers | 15-100 | | Passive or Non Smokers | < 15 |
|
| Clinical Significance |
| Heavy secondhand smoke exposure has shown results up to 25 ng/mL in serum. Thus, an overlap may occur between cotinine concentrations of a non-smoker who experiences heavy secondhand smoke exposure and light or occasional smokers. |
| Compliance Remarks |
| This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by PAML/PSHMC Division of Laboratory Medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or cleared this test. However, FDA approval or clearance is currently not required for clinical use of this test. The results are not intended to be used as the sole means for clinical diagnosis or patient management decisions. PAML/PSHMC is authorized under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to perform high-complexity testing. |
