Method for Detecting Second and Thirdhand Smoke

摘要

A novel method for testing if smoking has occurred within a space. Smoking is determined to have happened by testing for and confirming the presence of nicotine using a lateral flow test strip. The nicotine may be captured from secondhand smoke by exposing the condensing pad of the lateral flow tester to air within the space prior to activating the test strip. The nicotine may also be captured as part of thirdhand smoke residue on a surface within the space. A prior art commercially available lateral flow test strip used to test for the presence of cotinine within a biological sample, is used in novel ways for detecting for the past presence of nicotine smoke within a space. Improvements to the test apparatus are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for testing the presence of smoke deposits on a surface comprising the steps of:
(a) applying a moistened swab to a surface having a suspected smoke deposit, said moistened swab and said suspected smoke deposit forming a test fluid; (b) dispensing said test fluid to an adsorbent condenser fluidly connected to a conjugate pad, said conjugate pad containing a smoke test antibody, said test fluid and said smoke test antibody mixing to form a test mixture; (d) said test mixture flowing via capillary forces to a test trap area wherein said smoke test antibody and said smoke deposit reacts with said test trap area to create a test trap line indicating the presence of said smoke deposit on said surface.