Nicotine Metabolite Screen, Urine

Nicotine is one of the main ingredients in cigarettes and is a chemical that comes from the tobacco plant. It is inhaled from smoking, and gets absorbed into the blood. Nicotine is an addictive substance, causing body dependence to the substance. High levels of nicotine can cause nicotine poisoning. Nicotine is broken down in the liver to metabolite and cotinine. This test checks for cotinine levels in the urine, which is a less sensitive test than a blood test. This is helpful for screening to exposure to nicotine, compliance to cessation programs and possibly as part of a health or life insurance test.

This test is performed in following conditions such as:

• Screening for exposure to nicotine
• As medical tests for life and health insurance
• To measure compliance to cessation programs
• If there is suspected nicotine poisoning

Also Known As: Cotinine, Urine