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How Long Does Nicotine Stay In System?

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Posted on Wed, 4 Jun 2014
Question: I have a blood test in 4 days---I wont have any cigarettes for four days,,, smoked maybe a pack in the last week--before that none--will i pass the test?
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Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
2 weeks is ideal time to pass

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
If simple smoking is the issue then sparing four days before test will be all fine and wont be a problem.Nicotine is rapidly metabolized, exhibiting an elimination half-life of 2 hours. Cotinine exhibits an apparent elimination half-life of 15 hours. Heavy tobacco users who abstain from tobacco for 2 weeks exhibit serum nicotine values <2.0 ng/mL and cotinine <2.0 ng/mL.
So two weeks will get the result in reference range of less then 2 ng / ml.
If the levels come higher up to 8 then you will be spared as that is possible even due to passive smoking, when some one else is smoking and smoke is inhaled.
Here si how the test usually interprets.
Serum nicotine concentration in the range of 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL with cotinine in the range of 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL indicates the subject is either actively using a tobacco product or on nicotine replacement therapy.

To discriminate if a patient on nicotine replacement therapy is actively using a tobacco product, see NICOU / Nicotine and Metabolites, Urine analysis; the presence of anabasine in urine, a tobacco alkaloid not present in nicotine replacement products indicates recent tobacco use.

Typical findings are as follows:

While using a tobacco product:
-Peak nicotine concentration: 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL
-Peak cotinine concentration: 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL*
*Higher values may be seen in subjects with high cytochrome P450 2D6 activity

Tobacco user after 2 weeks complete abstinence:
-Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL
-Cotinine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

Nontobacco user with passive exposure:
-Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL
-Cotinine concentration: <8.0 ng/mL

Nontobacco user with no passive exposure:
-Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL
-Cotinine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

From that odds, i am sure you wil pass the test.
Take care and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
S Khan
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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How Long Does Nicotine Stay In System?

Brief Answer: 2 weeks is ideal time to pass Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking! If simple smoking is the issue then sparing four days before test will be all fine and wont be a problem.Nicotine is rapidly metabolized, exhibiting an elimination half-life of 2 hours. Cotinine exhibits an apparent elimination half-life of 15 hours. Heavy tobacco users who abstain from tobacco for 2 weeks exhibit serum nicotine values <2.0 ng/mL and cotinine <2.0 ng/mL. So two weeks will get the result in reference range of less then 2 ng / ml. If the levels come higher up to 8 then you will be spared as that is possible even due to passive smoking, when some one else is smoking and smoke is inhaled. Here si how the test usually interprets. Serum nicotine concentration in the range of 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL with cotinine in the range of 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL indicates the subject is either actively using a tobacco product or on nicotine replacement therapy. To discriminate if a patient on nicotine replacement therapy is actively using a tobacco product, see NICOU / Nicotine and Metabolites, Urine analysis; the presence of anabasine in urine, a tobacco alkaloid not present in nicotine replacement products indicates recent tobacco use. Typical findings are as follows: While using a tobacco product: -Peak nicotine concentration: 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL -Peak cotinine concentration: 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL* *Higher values may be seen in subjects with high cytochrome P450 2D6 activity Tobacco user after 2 weeks complete abstinence: -Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL -Cotinine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL Nontobacco user with passive exposure: -Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL -Cotinine concentration: <8.0 ng/mL Nontobacco user with no passive exposure: -Nicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL -Cotinine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL From that odds, i am sure you wil pass the test. Take care and dont forget to close the discussion please. Regards S Khan