Detection of Nicotine and Nicotine Metabolites in Units of Banked Blood

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology Vol. 151; no. 5; pp. 516 - 521
• Main Authors: Wiencek, Joesph R, Gehrie, Eric A, Keiser, Amaris M, Szklarski, Penny C, Johnson-Davis, Kamisha L, Booth, Garrett S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: UK Oxford University Press 02-04-2019
• Subjects: Blood Banks; Blood products; Chromatography, Liquid; Composition; Cotinine; Cotinine - analogs & derivatives; Cotinine - blood; Erythrocytes; Health aspects; Humans; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectroscopy; Metabolites; Neonates; Nicotine; Nicotine - blood; Original; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Testing; Tobacco; United States
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqy176

Abstract
Objectives
To determine the concentrations of nicotine and nicotine metabolites in RBC units as a means to estimate the point prevalence of exposure within the healthy donor pool.
Methods
Segments from 105 RBC units were tested for the presence of nicotine, cotinine, or trans-3ʹ-hydroxycotinine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.
Results
Of the 20 (19%) units that contained detectable concentrations of nicotine, cotinine, or trans-3ʹ-hydroxycotinine, 19 (18.1%) contained concentrations consistent with the use of a nicotine-containing product within 48 hours of specimen collection. One RBC unit contained nicotine concentrations consistent with passive exposure.
Conclusions
Chemicals from nicotine-containing products are detectable within the US RBC supply. Further investigation is needed to determine the risks of transfusion-associated exposure to nicotine and other tobacco-associated chemicals among vulnerable patient populations such as neonates.