How Long Can Nicotine Be Detected In The System?

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2015

Question: How long does it take nicotine/nicosz to clear your system for for an insurance company lab test?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It depend upon type of test used.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Nicotine is converted into cotinine in our body before being passed out of the body in urine. Nicotine and cotinine can be detected in the blood,urine,saliva or hair.

1.By blood test: Nicotine is typically excreted within 1-3 days after stopping tobacco. However cotinine can be detectable up to 10 days.
Blood test for nicotine is very accurate.

2.By urine test:Nicotine and cotinine are generally cleared within 3-4 days after stopping use of tobacco products.

3.By saliva test:Cotinine can be detected up to 4 days after stopping use of tobacco products.

4.By hair test:It is not regularly done.It may take take a year to clear from our hairs.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T