DVap

I recently posted the results of my urine cotinine test using a Nicalert test strip. My vaping had been pretty steady around 2.5 - 3 mL per day of 15 mg/mL eliquid with no exposure to any other nicotine source or 2nd hand smoke in more than 2 weeks.

I maxxed the strip at level 6, which indicates a urine cotinine level of 1000+ ng/mL.

Since urine cotinine is known to be around 6 - 10X more concentrated than plasma cotinine, I'll compromise and use a figure of 8X, this means that my plasma cotinine from regular vaping of 15 mg/mL eliquid was 125+ ng/mL.

But how much more than 125 ng/mL? Of course, I needed to know more.

So I bought ten cotinine test kits as described here.

These are inexpensive kits that give a basic positive/negative result at a stated cutoff of 200 ng/mL urine cotinine.

These wouldn't seem to be very useful since I've already maxed out a Nicalert strip at level 6 (1000+ ng/mL) for cotinine in urine.

But, there's nothing to stop me from diluting my urine with distilled water to extend the range of the test.

Here's what my pee had to say:
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Distilled water:
Result: negative

Undiluted urine:
Result: Positive (>200 ng/mL)

5X diluted urine:
Result: Positive (>1000 ng/mL)

10X diluted urine:
Result: Positive (>2000 ng/mL)

20X diluted urine:
Result: Positive (>4000 ng/ml)

40X diluted urine:
Result: Negative (>4000 ng/ml, <8000 ng/mL)
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So, not only have I confirmed my Nicalert result of >1000 ng/mL, but I've narrowed the urine cotinine range to between 4000 and 8000 ng/mL.

Using 8X as the divider to get plasma cotinine, I get 500 - 1000 ng/mL plasma cotinine.

My eliquid concentration is only 15 mg/mL, and my consumption in the past day was a little up.. perhaps 3 - 3.5 mL.

I'm gettin' it.