As a follow-up to the 2021 proficiency study, a collaborative study (CS) was conducted in an effort to publish a CORESTA Recommended Method (CRM) on the determination of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in mainstream cigarette smoke that accommodates the total HCN-only pad and pad plus impinger reporting requirements.

Statistical analysis was carried out following the ISO Standard 5725 to generate repeatability (r) and reproducibility (R) data on a combined data set. The test results of the study were acceptable and no statistically significant differences were observed between the measured results with the “Pad+Pad” trapping system and the “Pad+Imp” trapping system under both ISO 3308 and ISO 20778 smoking regimes.

Results reported supported the publication of a robust method for the determination of hydrogen cyanide in mainstream smoke by continuous flow analysis with “Pad+Imp” or “Pad+Pad” (treated plus blank pad) as an acceptable alternative trapping methods.

Following the recommendation of the Smoke Analysis (SA) Sub-Group, the method was published as CRM 106 "Determination of Hydrogen Cyanide in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke by Continuous Flow Analyzer".