Why test nicotine?

People are usually interested in how long nicotine remains in the system because their employers want to test nicotine – either as a condition of employment or, more commonly, to determine the cost of health insurance.

Although it seems unfair, employers and insurance companies do not have to distinguish between smokers and safer forms of nicotine users, such as e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco. Even nicotine gum approved by FDA for long-term use may be regarded as a health risk by employers and lead to an increase in the insurance price of employees.

Insurance companies believe that the presence of nicotine is a reliable indicator that the test subjects are tobacco users or users of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, which usually means people who quit smoking (and those who may re smoke, because more than 90% of NRT users).

But if you try to find something like “how long does nicotine stay in your blood?” The answer to such questions. Or “how long does nicotine stay in your urine?” Note that most tests don’t even look for nicotine itself. It will be introduced in detail later.

How long does nicotine stay in your body?

Although some tests can measure nicotine in human body, it is difficult to detect it in blood after one to three days, or in urine after four days. That’s why most employers and insurance companies no longer care about how long nicotine stays in your body.

Instead, they tested a substance called cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine is converted into cotinine (metabolism) by the liver and can be detected in the body for up to three weeks (although usually about a week).

The length of cotinine retained in your system may vary depending on your ethnic background, gender, medications taken, and even your diet. For example, men usually maintain higher levels of cotinine than women. With the progress of science, the suggestions about the “cut-off point” (the level at which people tested are considered positive for nicotine use) have changed.

Different nicotine tests

Blood test

There are several tests that can be used to measure cotinine levels. The blood test is very accurate and can detect nicotine and cotinine. It is also the most expensive and invasive test method, so it is used less frequently than other methods.

Obviously, blood drawing requires trained technicians and visits to the laboratory, which makes the process both expensive and troublesome for employees and employers. Cotinine has two blood tests. One is a simple positive or negative measurement, which cannot quantify the content of cotinine in the blood. Another test can specify the level of nicotine metabolites in serum.

Saliva test

Saliva detection is the most sensitive method in common use. In recent years, many laboratories and insurance companies have switched to saliva detection. The level of cotinine detected by saliva test is about one-third of that in serum and about one-fifth of that in urine. But the biggest advantage of saliva testing is that it is easy for all relevant personnel.

Salivary tests for cotinine are usually carried out by employers using kits provided by third-party laboratories. Swabs are usually carried out on people’s mouths, then inserted into self sealing containers, and then transported to the laboratory. Then return the results online or by phone to the employer or insurance company. This is much cheaper and more time-consuming than sending each employee to the laboratory for blood testing.

urine examination

Compared with blood or saliva, the content of cotinine in urine is six times higher. This makes it a better choice for detecting low concentration cotinine. The test is also relatively simple. Soak the test paper in the urine sample for a few minutes, and it will soon give a positive or negative result.

Hair test

Detecting cotinine from hair samples is the most reliable method, but it is also the most difficult, expensive and slow method. If the results of other tests are unclear or in doubt, sometimes a hair test is required. It is also often used in scientific research. The advantage of scientists who study smoking and nicotine is that hair samples can retain cotinine for up to three months.

How to avoid testing positive?

A variety of products claim to “clear the body” of nicotine (and other drugs) in just a few days. It is doubtful whether they are really effective. Many people tested – except heavy smokers – are likely to test negative in about a week without nicotine, while the vast majority of people test negative in two weeks.

So save money, buy some nicotine free electronic cigarette oil, and drink a lot of water to flush your system.

Do all insurance companies test nicotine?

Insurance companies usually conduct nicotine (or cotinine) tests on health insurance customers, but some companies also conduct tests for life insurance purposes. Some companies are now changing their guidelines to allow policyholders to use e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, but are still eligible for the price of non-smokers. Some even allow cigars without raising their interest rates.

If you are buying life insurance, it may be helpful to shop around and ask about their policies to reduce the risk of nicotine use.

In the future, we hope that employers and insurance companies can recognize the risk difference between smoking and using safer forms of nicotine, and stop punishing e-cigarette and snuff users. At the same time, if you know when you want to take the test, the best choice is to simply abstain for two weeks or more. If your job is stable, please consider discussing with your employer why they should encourage smokers in your company to switch to low-risk nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes.