Nicotine and Cotinine – Urine – HM039
🚭 Toxicology / Smoking Status
₹2199
MRP ₹2250
Sample Time: 4:30 PM
Report: Next day Evening
Sample Type: Urine (Random/Spot)
Test Code: HM039
Report: Next day Evening
Sample Type: Urine (Random/Spot)
Test Code: HM039
About this Test:
The Nicotine and Cotinine - Urine test is a highly specific laboratory test that measures the levels of nicotine and its primary metabolite, cotinine, in a urine sample. This test is the most reliable way to determine a person's exposure to nicotine from tobacco products.
✔ Detects use of all nicotine products: cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping), cigars, gutka, and nicotine patches/gum.
✔ Cotinine is the key marker, as it has a longer half-life (up to 2 days) than nicotine (1-2 hours).
✔ Used for smoking cessation programs, insurance policy testing, and pre-employment screening.
✔ A highly sensitive test performed at our central diagnostic center.
The Nicotine and Cotinine - Urine test is a highly specific laboratory test that measures the levels of nicotine and its primary metabolite, cotinine, in a urine sample. This test is the most reliable way to determine a person's exposure to nicotine from tobacco products.
✔ Detects use of all nicotine products: cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping), cigars, gutka, and nicotine patches/gum.
✔ Cotinine is the key marker, as it has a longer half-life (up to 2 days) than nicotine (1-2 hours).
✔ Used for smoking cessation programs, insurance policy testing, and pre-employment screening.
✔ A highly sensitive test performed at our central diagnostic center.
Nicotine vs. Cotinine: Why Test Both?
When you use a tobacco product, nicotine enters your bloodstream. Your body quickly begins to metabolize (break down) this nicotine, primarily in the liver, converting it into several byproducts. The most important of these is Cotinine.
- Nicotine: This is the active, addictive substance. However, it has a very short half-life of only 1-2 hours. A urine nicotine test might only be positive if you have smoked or used a nicotine product very recently (within a few hours).
- Cotinine: This is the main metabolite of nicotine. It has a much longer half-life of 16-24 hours (and sometimes longer). Cotinine can be detected in urine for 2 to 4 days after the last nicotine use (and even longer in heavy, long-term smokers).
By measuring cotinine, this test provides a much wider and more reliable window of detection. It can confirm nicotine use even if the person has not smoked on the day of the test. Measuring both provides a complete picture of recent and current use.
Common Uses for the Test
- Smoking Cessation Programs: To verify a person's claim of quitting and to monitor for relapse.
- Insurance Applications: Life and health insurance companies often require this test to determine if an applicant is a tobacco user, which significantly affects premiums.
- Pre-Employment Screening: Some employers screen for nicotine use.
- Medical Evaluation: To confirm if symptoms (like high blood pressure) could be related to undisclosed tobacco use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Why test for cotinine instead of just nicotine?
Nicotine disappears from the body very quickly (within hours). Cotinine, its main byproduct, stays in the body for 2-4 days. Testing for cotinine is a much more reliable way to detect recent tobacco use.
Nicotine disappears from the body very quickly (within hours). Cotinine, its main byproduct, stays in the body for 2-4 days. Testing for cotinine is a much more reliable way to detect recent tobacco use.
Q2: How long after quitting smoking will this test be positive?
The cotinine test can typically detect nicotine use for 2 to 4 days after you stop. For very heavy or long-term smokers, it may remain detectable for a week or slightly more.
The cotinine test can typically detect nicotine use for 2 to 4 days after you stop. For very heavy or long-term smokers, it may remain detectable for a week or slightly more.
Q3: Will this test detect vaping (e-cigarettes) or gutka?
Yes. This test detects nicotine and its breakdown product, cotinine. It does not matter how the nicotine entered your body whether from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, gutka, nicotine gum/patches, or e-cigarettes (vaping). All will result in a positive test.
Yes. This test detects nicotine and its breakdown product, cotinine. It does not matter how the nicotine entered your body whether from cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, gutka, nicotine gum/patches, or e-cigarettes (vaping). All will result in a positive test.
Q4: Can secondhand smoke make me test positive?
For this highly sensitive laboratory test, it is possible for extremely high levels of passive (secondhand) smoke exposure to result in a low-level positive. However, the cutoff levels used by the diagnostic center are generally set to distinguish active, primary users from those with only passive exposure.
For this highly sensitive laboratory test, it is possible for extremely high levels of passive (secondhand) smoke exposure to result in a low-level positive. However, the cutoff levels used by the diagnostic center are generally set to distinguish active, primary users from those with only passive exposure.
Q5: Do I need to fast or prepare for this urine test?
No, fasting or special preparation is not required. A single, random urine sample is sufficient.
No, fasting or special preparation is not required. A single, random urine sample is sufficient.