John Foren, a spokesman for Sparrow Hospital, said implementation of the new hiring policy was going well.

Foren declined to comment further on the policy.

Teri Wilson, a consultant and researcher for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said testing for tobacco is done by assessing the level of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in a person’s system.

She said cotinine usually is measured through urine tests, but cotinine levels also could be determined through blood and saliva collection.

However, Wilson said testing “can cause a false positive if not controlling for (secondhand smoke or a nicotine patch).”

“It has to be known if they live with anyone who smokes, or if they are a non-smoker using a nicotine patch,” she added.

According to a list of frequently asked questions compiled by the hospital, testing would take into account the possibility of exposure to secondhand smoke. But the list also stipulates applicants must be completely nicotine-free at the time of screening regardless of the presence of a nicotine patch.

A statement released by Sparrow on the hospital’s web site said the policy will not affect those currently employed by Sparrow, but they are encouraged to participate in programs offered by the hospital to help people quit smoking. According to the statement, Sparrow is one of the first hospitals in Michigan to enact such a policy.

But all hospitals in Michigan prohibit smoking on the premises, Wilson said.

“Most of our hospitals have been successfully implementing a smoke-free campus,” Wilson said.

MSU economics graduate student Nate Victors said he supports the policy.

“(The workers) who recommend living healthily should follow their own advice,” Victors said.

Execution of the policy occurred on the one-year anniversary of the implementation of Michigan’s Smoke-Free Air Law, which prohibited tobacco smoking in all restaurants, bars and businesses within the state.