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Appendix A
– CO Check+ and Smoking
Cessation
The CO Check+ (#CO10) is an innovative Carbon
Monoxide monitor designed specifically for use in
smoking cessation programs and clinics.
All patients attending a smoking cessation program
should have their smoking habits established and
checked with the CO Check+ at every visit. The results of
an initial test may sound alarming to many smokers but
within a few days of stopping, CO levels can drop to
normal and it is very encouraging for a smoker to see
this. CO monitoring is an extremely powerful tool for a
smoking cessation counselor, physician or respiratory
therapist.
Taking a test before a COPD patient stops smoking will
help you gauge their level of nicotine dependence, and
taking it after they have stopped will give them real proof
that what they are doing is working.
The best time to do a test is in the afternoon as CO levels
fall over-night and morning readings can sometimes give
misleading low results. High reading in the morning, on
the other hand, would be strong evidence of heavy
inhalation and high nicotine dependence.
One single breath of expiration into the CO Check+ will
give instant results in PPM and %COHb.
