Nicotine and Metabolites, Serum (Referred Out) - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Alias
- Nicotine
- Nicotine metabolites
- Cotinine
- Tobacco Alkaloids
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Serum
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: Red (clot activator) 4.0mL
Required volume
- Optimal volume: Full 4.0 mL Collection Tube
- Minimum volume: 0.5 mL serum
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
Transport and stability
- Stable at room temperature for 28 days; refrigerated for 28 days; frozen for 28 days
- Refrigerated is the preferred temperature
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Performance
Methodology
- High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Days/times performed
Availability |
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Testing site |
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Maximum laboratory time
- 7 day turnaround time by testing laboratory
Other information
- Serum nicotine concentration in the range of 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL with cotinine in the range of 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL indicates the subject is either actively using a tobacco product or on nicotine replacement therapy.
- Nicotine and Metabolites Urine analysis can be used to discriminate if a patient is on nicotine replacement therapy or actively using a tobacco product. The presence of anabasine in urine (a tobacco alkaloid-not present in nicotine replacement) suggests tobacco use.
Last Updated: October 9, 2024