Estimation of Cotinine Level in the Serum and Saliva in Active Smokers and Non-Smokers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smoking is the single most cause of disability, and death affecting the World’s population today. Cotinine the major metabolite of nicotine is generally regarded as the best biomarker for monitoring tobacco exposure in both actively and passively exposed individuals. The aim of the study was to estimate and compare cotinine level in smokers and Non- smokers in saliva and serum by High profile liquid chromatography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum and Saliva samples were collected. Chromatography was performed using an L-7100 pump, an L-7400 UV detector, an L-7200 auto sampler, an L-7500 integrator and an 865-CO column oven. Cotinine was quantified by comparing the HPLC peak heights to those of authentic standard. RESULTS: Study group showed higher serum and saliva cotinine levels than control group. Serum cotinine levels were significantly higher than saliva cotinine levels in study group. Serum and saliva cotinine levels in control group was not significant. CONCLUSION: Our study shows the importance of estimating cotinine levels for distinguishing tobacco users from non-users, for estimating the nicotine intake of tobacco users and for specifying the exposure of nonsmokers to second hand smoke. The use of High profile liquid chromatography with its superior resolving power is also recommended. However more studies are needed using High profile liquid chromatography to establish standardized values