[Determination of cotinine in human urine by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry].

A gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric assay has been developed for the quantitation of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, in human urine. Extraction or condensing procedure was not required and the method reduced time involved in sample preparation. The analytes were separated on the fused-silica capillary column. The operating conditions were: injector, 250 degrees C; detector, 280 degrees C; column, 50-250 degrees C. The total gas flow-rate of helium (carrier) was 50 ml.min-1 and the pressure of column inlet was 100-200 kPa. The retention time was 18.1 min and the limit of quantitation was 5 ng.ml-1. This method provides an easy and simple assay for the detection of cotinine in clinical settings.