Changing Status of Saliva Cotinine Positive samples following the Smoke-Free Legislation Act
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Author(s)
Stephen Mortlock
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| Presenter(s) |
Stephen Mortlock Global Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Liaison, Quest Diagnostics, Heston |
Abstract Background: In the past many insurance companies would take customers at their word when completing application forms however they are increasingly insisting on independent checks to weed out fraudulent claims. Cotinine in saliva has a longer half-life than nicotine (greater than 10 hours), and it has been shown to be a specific and sensitive marker for determining exposure to tobacco and nicotine for both smokers and the impact of passive smoking.
Methods: Samples were self- collected using the Omin-Sal collection device and transported to the testing laboratory. The collected samples were processed and assayed using a standard Saliva Cotinine Assay.
Results: Over a nine year period 39,651 oral fluid samples were assayed for saliva cotinine. Of the samples tested the majority (93.6%) were reported as Negative (<7 ng/mL) and only 2,433 (6.1%) samples tested were repeatedly Positive (>13 ng/mL). From 2003 to 2008 the positivity rate remained fairly constant (average 6.3%), however in 2009 and 2010 this figure had fallen to 4.7%.
Conclusion: Although the number of data points was very small a Fisher two tailed T-test was used to give a P value of 0.0043, a significant reduction after the introduction of the Smoke-Free Legislation.
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Presenter biography Stephen Mortlock is the Global Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Liaison at the Quest Diagnostics Laboratory in Heston UK. Prior to joining Quest Diagnostics, Stephen was the Chief Microbiologist at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, Pakistan and was awarded a DSc for his work setting up an antenatal screening programme for the indigent population.
Stephen and colleagues have published over 40 papers on an eclectic mix of subjects from enteric pathogens, food science and saliva cotinine. Stephen has also worked for the Health Protection Agency in the UK and spent time in the Middle East.
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Source of funding: None
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Declaration of interest: None
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