Assays indicate that electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) should be regulated
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Author(s)
Mira V. Doig and Colin Feyerabend
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| Presenter(s) |
Mira V. Doig Laboratory & QA Manager, ABS Laboratories Ltd, Welwyn Garden City |
Abstract Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine and its presence in biological fluids indicates nicotine intake. Research has shown that cotinine levels in saliva directly correlate with those in plasma, so measuring cotinine in a saliva sample from a subject after using an E-cig can then be related to the actual amount of nicotine inhaled. Measuring cotinine levels in subjects using E-cigs has been highly variable. Does this indicate lack of control of nicotine vaporisation or variable manufacture?
Why are these products not registered with the MHRA like any other nicotine replacement product? Looking at the plasma profiles of nicotine compared to other NRT products it is likely that this could be a popular aid to smoking cessation or at least safer product than using tobacco.
We have validated sophisticated LC-MS/MS assays to measure cotinine in saliva and cotinine and nicotine in plasma to help researchers looking at E-cigs as a NRT regime. Data on the analytical methodology used and results of some of these studies will be presented.
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Presenter biography Mira V. Doig BSc PhD F. Chrom. Soc. Biography
I joined forces with Dr Colin Feyerabend at ABS Laboratories in 1996 after 15 years supporting drug discovery and development at a Pharmaceutical Company, Wellcome, now part of GSK. My expertise is developing LC-MS/MS and GC-MS assays for drugs, metabolites and biomarkers in biological fluids. I have worked hard with Colin to use these sophisticated technologies to supply cost effective assays to support smoking research and cessation programmes.
Colin Feyerabend BSc PhD Biography
I started developing analytical assays for nicotine and its metabolites in 1973 when I joined Prof Malcolm Russell’s MRC funded programme grant looking at nicotine and the dangers of smoking. I have analysed samples from hundreds of studies since 1973. Unfortunately the MRC funding finished in 1995 so I set up ABS Laboratories so that we could continue analysing samples plus expand into analyzing other drugs, metabolites and biomarkers. With Dr Doig’s knowledge of mass spectrometry and the Pharmaceutical Industry and my knowledge of smoking research the company grew to the well equipped GLP/GCP accredited laboratory that it is today.
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Source of funding: People pay us per sample. The funds can be from Universities, the NHS, charities and commercial companies developing NRT.
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Declaration of interest: We have supported research funded by the MHRA and commercial companies who produce E-cigs and NRT
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