Method for Detecting Second and Thirdhand Smoke

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.