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
| Exhaled carbon monoxide (ppm) | Exhaled carbon monoxide (ppm) |
| Nonsmoker | 0-6 |
| Light | 7-10 |
| Moderate | 10-20 |
| Heavy | > 20 |
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).