carbon monoxide monitoring in smoking cessation

Last reviewed 02/2023

• biochemical measures are generally used in smoking cessation studies rather than in routine clinical practice
• one of the available biochemical measures is exhaled carbon monoxide. Measurements are not specific to cigarettes and half-life is short (3 to 5 hours).
  • levels fall to normal in 24 hours

Exhaled carbon monoxide in nonsmokers and smokers

Another biochemical marker of smoking is cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, which can be detected in serum, saliva, and urine

• it has a long half-life (16 hours) and can detect smoking in the preceding 3 to 4 days, but requires laboratory analysis
• cotinine will generate a false-positive test result in patients using nicotine replacement

Reference:

• 1.Brunnhuber K et al. Putting evidence into practice: Smoking cessation. BMJ Group (Summer 2007).