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Nicotine can be detected through various tests measuring cotinine in blood, hair, saliva, or urine. Testing is used for various reasons, including assessing health risks, smoking cessation programs, and child custody cases. Urine and saliva tests are commonly used, while blood tests are less reliable. Hair testing is expensive and mainly used for research.
Nicotine can be detected through various tests that measure the level of a chemical called cotinine. The body only produces cotinine when nicotine enters the body, such as through the use of cigarettes, pipe tobacco, snuff, cigars, or chewing tobacco. Cotinine can be detected by testing a person’s blood, hair, saliva, or urine. Test results can show whether a person is a current or a former tobacco user.
There are various reasons why nicotine testing might be done. Parents sometimes use tests to determine if their children have smoked. Some companies’ health insurance providers require nicotine testing to assess an employee’s potential health risks. The tests can also be used in smoking cessation programs, in child custody cases, when a person is applying for life insurance, or for research purposes.
A urine test is a commonly used method for testing for nicotine. The level of cotinine in urine is measured using a test strip or by placing a few drops of urine on a test disc. Urine containing cotinine reacts with test materials to show a positive or negative result. Home drug test kits are readily available at pharmacies or via the Internet for those who wish to conduct nicotine testing in private. A nicotine urine test is good for about four days after a person has last used tobacco.
Evaluating saliva for nicotine testing is a similar process to urine testing. For this evaluation, a saliva sample is placed on a test strip and produces results in about half an hour. While the nicotine saliva test gives consistent and accurate results, it may show a positive reading from secondhand smoke exposure. Parents sometimes use home saliva test kits to determine if their children have smoked.
Blood work for nicotine testing is not as reliable as urine or saliva tests. When a person uses tobacco, the level of nicotine in the blood rises almost immediately and remains there for more than two weeks. The level of nicotine shown in the blood can vary depending on the individual’s metabolism, the type of tobacco used, and the depth of inhalation of the smoke. Some employers prefer blood testing because it can screen for nicotine and illegal drugs at the same time.
Cotinine can remain in hair follicles for up to a year after a person has stopped using tobacco. Nicotine testing with hair samples is expensive and is rarely used by insurance companies or employers. It is generally limited to research measuring the effects of secondhand smoke on non-smokers. Hair from any part of the body is suitable for this type of test.
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