Doctor's Assessment Included
Every result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
Nicotine (Cotinine)
A nicotine/cotinine urine test is a qualitative screening that detects the presence of cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, in urine. Cotinine is a reliable biomarker for tobacco and nicotine product use.
What It Measures
This test primarily detects cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine itself has a short half-life of approximately 1 to 2 hours, while cotinine persists for significantly longer, making it the preferred target for urine screening. The test provides a qualitative result indicating whether cotinine is present above the assay cut-off level.
Cotinine levels reflect nicotine exposure from all sources, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy, and environmental tobacco smoke.
Why It Matters
Cotinine testing provides objective evidence of nicotine exposure and is used in various clinical, insurance, and employment contexts. It can verify tobacco cessation in smoking cessation programmes and support health insurance assessments.
The test detects nicotine from any source, so interpretation should consider nicotine replacement therapy, electronic cigarettes, and other nicotine-containing products in addition to traditional tobacco use.
When to Test
Testing may be relevant for smoking cessation programme verification, insurance underwriting, pre-surgical assessments, workplace wellness programmes, or when tobacco use status needs to be objectively determined.
Consult a healthcare professional for guidance on when nicotine/cotinine testing is appropriate and how to interpret results in the relevant context.