Saliva cotinine testing

GFC Diagnostics has developed a new salivary cotinine test. The improved assay simplifies the semi-quantitative test. We have included a new saliva collecting device which consists of a white collecting swab and bottle. The swab actively absorbs saliva and when saturated holds approximately 1ml, but this can be used repeatedly to collect the right amount of saliva. The swab is sqeezed ino the bottle which has markings on the side to ensure the correct volume is collected.

The saliva collecting device is available seperately. The ordering code is GFCD013. Orders can be sent by email to info@gfcdiagnostics.co.uk

The new saliva test is ideally suited for for the dental profession and studying smoking-related oral disease. A recent article in Preventative Dentistry highlights the role of smoking in causing periodontitis.

Work with the  previous saliva test has been published (Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 2000; 37: 666-673) and an evaluation undertaken to evaluate the test as a chair-side test to quantify nicotine intake, a comparison with oral health parameters and an intervention to improve smoking cessation.

The results  (IADRA 2004) showed significant correlations between salivary cotinine values from SmokeScreen and reported alcohol use (r=0.25, p<0.01), incidence of caries (r=0.25, p<0.01), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs scores (r=0.4, p<0.001), probing pocket depths (r=0.26 p<0.01), mobility, (r=0.34, p<0.001) and the presence of adverse oral mucosal change (r=0.26, p<0.01).

The evaluation was published in the British Medical Journal 2005; 331: 999-1002 and showed a higher smoking quit rate was achieved with the point of care test (23% cases v 7% controls; P < 0.039), and overall tobacco use also decreased (68% cases v 28% controls; P < 0.001).

Mean nicotine metabolite values at eight weeks were 2.58 (2.0) for cases and 4.29 (1.8) for controls (P < 0.001).

The conclusions were that incorporation of individualised personal feedback using a point of care test for salivary nicotine metabolites into a general practice based smoking cessation programme increased quit rates by 17% at eight weeks and reduced tobacco use.