noun
- Plural of cotinine; metabolites of nicotine found in the blood, urine, or saliva, used as a biomarker to detect tobacco or nicotine exposure.
Usage: technical; medical/scientific context
Examples
- Doctors measured cotinines in the patient's blood to confirm recent nicotine exposure.
- Cotinines are commonly used in research studies to assess secondhand smoke exposure.
- The lab detected elevated cotinines in the urine sample, indicating active smoking.
- Public health officials use cotinine levels to monitor tobacco use in populations.
- Cotinines remain detectable in the body for several days after nicotine exposure.