A Novel Method for the Isolation and Quantitative Analysis of Nicotine and Cotinine in Biological Fluids*

Abstract

A rapid quantitative method has been developed for the estimation of nicotine and cotinine in blood and urine. Isolation is accomplished by adsorption of the alkaloids on Amberlite XAD-2 resin and subsequent elution with chloroform/methanol. No solvent extraction or further purification is required. The final determination is made by high performance liquid chromatography using UV detection. Absolute recovery of nicotine was at least 80% in all samples. The accuracy of the method is estimated to be ± 5% on standard addition measurements. Detection limits of 2 ng/ml urine may be routinely obtained.