Highly Sensitive Immuno-Assays for the Determination of Cotinine in Serum and Saliva. Comparison Between RIA and an Avidin-Biotin ELISA

on Cotinine elimination in different body fluids varies Cotinine is the major metabolite of nicotine. In husignificantly (2). In adult non-smokers, the serum mans, 70% of nicotine is met bolized (oxidized) to concentration of cotinine is 1.5 μg/lJ and concentracotinine, 4% is oxidized differently, 9% is excreted tions in saliva and urine are 1.7 and 5.0 μ§/1, respecunchanged in urine and the metabolic fate of the tively. In smokers, these values increase about 180 remaining 17% is still unknown (1). fold in plasma and in saliva, and 280 fold in urine (3). Serum cotinine is considered to be a useful bio: logical indicator of environmental-tobacco-smoke ex) This work was partly supported by "La Caisse Nationale posure (4) A significant difference in cotinine levels d Assurances Maladies des Travailleurs Salanes and by IN, 4 * . J T u ^ j ^ i i -SERM CRE 888010. Sa d Benkirane benefited from a stubetween races has been reported. In white and black dent grant from "La Societe de Tabacologie". children unexposed to tobacco smoke, the serum co-