Cigarette smoking does not affect nucleic acid testing, which can still be done after smoking. The nucleic acid test uses a swab to collect respiratory secretions from the patient, either through the mouth or through the nose, to determine if the patient is infected with Neocollins by detecting the presence of Neocollins on the secretions. Smoking does not affect the amount of Neocollins in respiratory secretions and has no effect on the results of the Neocollins nucleic acid test. However, most long-term smokers have chronic pharyngitis, which often irritates the throat during the NCRE collection process. During the collection process, smokers’ discomfort will be aggravated, nausea, dry heaving and other discomforts. Therefore, it is best for smokers to avoid smoking before the nucleic acid test to avoid aggravating the discomfort in the throat.