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Cotinine Levels

Meaning

The quantifiable concentration of cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, measured in biological fluids such as blood, urine, or saliva, used as a reliable biomarker for recent or chronic tobacco exposure. This measurement provides an objective assessment of an individual’s nicotine exposure status, encompassing active smoking, secondhand smoke, and the use of nicotine-containing products. Clinically, it offers a precise, dose-dependent index of exposure.