Smokers may be subject to testing by insurance companies and prospective employers.
Life and health insurance policies frequently require tobacco smoking tests to determine the risk of insuring an applicant. Employers want to know if prospective employees smoke due to workplace quality and company health benefits issues. Smoking tests can detect nicotine levels in the body. Several environmental factors, however, can influence test results, giving a false reading for a non-smoker.
Blood Test
A blood test for tobacco smokers reveals cotinine in blood plasma. Cotinine is a by-product of nicotine breakdown in the body and, though not harmful itself, serves as a flag for recent exposure to high concentrations of smoke. Cotinine stays in the bloodstream longer than nicotine and is therefore a more stable indicator of recent smoking. Unfortunately, non-smokers may also test high in cotinine from exposure to environmental smoke. Since the liver metabolizes nicotine, if the person tested has poor liver function, there may be latent residue of cotinine long after quitting smoking and Chinese-Americans show a slower rate of nicotine metabolism than Caucasians.
Urine Test
Urine tests can reveal traces of cotinine up to four days after the last use of cigarette, cigar, pipe and chewing tobacco products. The urine test is much like a pregnancy test, uncomplicated to perform, even at home. Immunoassays, or profiles, of immune responses between antibodies and antigens, can signal cotinine in the urine sample.
Saliva Test
Thiocyanate, the end product of the body's detoxification of hydrogen cyanide in cigarette smoke, is secreted in human saliva. A test of thiocyanate involves saturation of a color-coded strip with saliva to detect evidence of cigarette smoke. It is a non-invasive and highly sensitive, efficient and accurate test requiring no training to administer. It can be performed in the workplace in the presence of the test subject.
Breath Test
The measure of carbon monoxide in expired air is another test for smoking. It is about 90 percent accurate and is considered less reliable than the blood, urine and saliva tests. Exposure to carbon monoxide from traffic or industrial emissions can cause elevated levels in the breath and give a false reading. However, for most applications it is considered an acceptable test and is cheaper than most other tests, making it a more viable option for some investigators.
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