Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
How Long Does Nicotine Take To Leave The System?
Question: Hello,
I had been a 1/2 pack a day smoker for about 10-11 years.
I quit smoking for 2 weeks about 10 days ago after which I started smoking again while I was going through an emotional setback lately. I quit again today.
I have a urine cotinine test as a pre-employment screening conducted by XXXXXXX Clinic in 12 days. I am 29, have a BMI of 22 and try to eat healthy. What are my chances of passing if I stay quit and what are the do's and dont's in the next 12 days to increase my chances of passing?
Also, I have bought the test kits available on XXXXXXX but they have a cut-off of 200ng/ml. What is the cut-off for XXXXXXX Clinic? Any way to know?
Thank you!
I had been a 1/2 pack a day smoker for about 10-11 years.
I quit smoking for 2 weeks about 10 days ago after which I started smoking again while I was going through an emotional setback lately. I quit again today.
I have a urine cotinine test as a pre-employment screening conducted by XXXXXXX Clinic in 12 days. I am 29, have a BMI of 22 and try to eat healthy. What are my chances of passing if I stay quit and what are the do's and dont's in the next 12 days to increase my chances of passing?
Also, I have bought the test kits available on XXXXXXX but they have a cut-off of 200ng/ml. What is the cut-off for XXXXXXX Clinic? Any way to know?
Thank you!
Brief Answer:
if stay quit, you will pass the test
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing to us.
I read your query and understood your concern.
From your history it seems that you can pass cotinine urine test if you stay quit completely during these 12 days.
Cotinine test is an immunoassay test for the detection of Nicotine in urine. It is a simple test with high sensitivity and comparatively low specificity.
It can detect cotinine (metabolite of nicotine) in urine maximum up to 5 days of last smoke.
The threshold for passing/failing test is 200 ng/ml of cotinine. Levels of cotinine below this can't be detected in urine by cotinine test. It is a standard test and the threshold levels are same across all labs. At XXXXXXX clinic also this level is followed likely.
Whatever the threshold level at XXXXXXX clinic if you can stay away completely from smoking until test done (and if possible ever) you can pass the test.
Drink enough water and juices to increase urine output for a week. 3 days before testing start taking normal quantity of water so urine will not be diluted much. Otherwise suspiciousness will be created and retesting may be advised.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
if stay quit, you will pass the test
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing to us.
I read your query and understood your concern.
From your history it seems that you can pass cotinine urine test if you stay quit completely during these 12 days.
Cotinine test is an immunoassay test for the detection of Nicotine in urine. It is a simple test with high sensitivity and comparatively low specificity.
It can detect cotinine (metabolite of nicotine) in urine maximum up to 5 days of last smoke.
The threshold for passing/failing test is 200 ng/ml of cotinine. Levels of cotinine below this can't be detected in urine by cotinine test. It is a standard test and the threshold levels are same across all labs. At XXXXXXX clinic also this level is followed likely.
Whatever the threshold level at XXXXXXX clinic if you can stay away completely from smoking until test done (and if possible ever) you can pass the test.
Drink enough water and juices to increase urine output for a week. 3 days before testing start taking normal quantity of water so urine will not be diluted much. Otherwise suspiciousness will be created and retesting may be advised.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer.
I have read at various places on the internet that urine cotinine can stay positive for up to 2 or more weeks. However, you are mentioning that urine cotinine test can detect cotinine for a maximum of 5 days? Are you saying that 5 days of quitting is enough to pass the test? I intend to stay quit forever. But I am just trying to understand this better.
Also, you mentioned that urine cotinine tests cannot detect below 200ng/ml. Here is a kit on XXXXXXX that detects levels below:
http://www XXXXXXX com/NicAlert-Nicotine-Cotinine-Multiple-Quantities/dp/B002EDPTTI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=0000&sr=8-4&keywords=cotinine+test+kit
If something like this is available online, I would presume that XXXXXXX Clinic might also have much more sensitive assays than 200ng/ml! Also, XXXXXXX Clinic does "quantitative tests" apparently. Does that mean that their cut-off could be lower than 200ng/ml?
I have read at various places on the internet that urine cotinine can stay positive for up to 2 or more weeks. However, you are mentioning that urine cotinine test can detect cotinine for a maximum of 5 days? Are you saying that 5 days of quitting is enough to pass the test? I intend to stay quit forever. But I am just trying to understand this better.
Also, you mentioned that urine cotinine tests cannot detect below 200ng/ml. Here is a kit on XXXXXXX that detects levels below:
http://www XXXXXXX com/NicAlert-Nicotine-Cotinine-Multiple-Quantities/dp/B002EDPTTI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=0000&sr=8-4&keywords=cotinine+test+kit
If something like this is available online, I would presume that XXXXXXX Clinic might also have much more sensitive assays than 200ng/ml! Also, XXXXXXX Clinic does "quantitative tests" apparently. Does that mean that their cut-off could be lower than 200ng/ml?
Brief Answer:
yes 5 days are enough
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and sorry for delayed response.
Most of the urine tests detect positive level almost up to 48-72 hours within last intake.So 5 days are quite enough to pass the test.
I checked the site of XXXXXXX The cutoff concentration for the NicAlertTM test is 100 ng/mL. In routine methods 200 ng/ml cut off is used all over the world.
Some of the very sensitive methods can detect 10ng/ml also.I am sorry that I forgot to mention the word routine methods in previous answer.
You can read on that site,"Important Information
Legal Disclaimer
Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product."
So question about reliability of the product?!
I cannot say any confirm level at cleaveland clinic.But yes in routine they also are applying 200ng/ml level as it is standardized cut off level.
Hope this answers your concern.
yes 5 days are enough
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and sorry for delayed response.
Most of the urine tests detect positive level almost up to 48-72 hours within last intake.So 5 days are quite enough to pass the test.
I checked the site of XXXXXXX The cutoff concentration for the NicAlertTM test is 100 ng/mL. In routine methods 200 ng/ml cut off is used all over the world.
Some of the very sensitive methods can detect 10ng/ml also.I am sorry that I forgot to mention the word routine methods in previous answer.
You can read on that site,"Important Information
Legal Disclaimer
Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product."
So question about reliability of the product?!
I cannot say any confirm level at cleaveland clinic.But yes in routine they also are applying 200ng/ml level as it is standardized cut off level.
Hope this answers your concern.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
