How Long Does Cotinine Remain In The Body?

Posted on Sat, 10 Oct 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 10 Oct 2015 Answered on

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a cotinine test in 15 days I quit smoking after a pack a day for 15 years for 3 months and passed a cotinine test, but now they sprung another test on me in 15 days and I have smoked a pack a week for a month, if I quit now again will i pass in 15 days?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
in all likelihood, yes

Detailed Answer:
the half life of cotinin is LESS than a day. half, fourth, eigth.....really tiny amount left. It doesn't store up in tissues quite to the extent that marijuana does. If they DID detect it, it would be at a level BELOW what could be seen wiht second hand smoke; I doubt they want the test to be that sensitive.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar