The CORESTA Tobacco and Tobacco Products Analytes (TTPA) Sub-Group conducted a proficiency study in the first quarter of 2020 for the determination of nicotine and nicotine degradants in nicotine pouches and e-liquids.

The objective of this proficiency study was to provide a continuing assessment of laboratory capabilities for the analysis of nicotine and nicotine degradants in nicotine pouches and e-liquids. Laboratories were requested to determine nicotine, anatabine, anabasine, nicotine-N’-oxide, myosmine, ß-nicotyrine, cotinine, and nornicotine using their in-house methodologies.

In many cases labs obtained different results for nicotine degradants and this is likely due to the use of different methodologies. It was recommended that a method be developed for evaluation as a potential CORESTA Recommended Method for the determination of nicotine degradants.