HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Can I Pass Nicotine Blood Test After Quitting Smoking For 4.5 Days?

Hi... I have been a regular smoker for the past ten years. I recently was called and offered a position unexpectedly but in order to accept I have to pass a nicotine blood test. I have read many articles and understand about cotinine but wanted a real opinion. I was called about the position yesterday so I quit today. That leaves me 4 1/2 days until the test. Is it possible to pass?
Mon, 17 Aug 2015
Report Abuse
Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
tricky. It's right on the border. Cotinin has a 17 hr half life. That is about 6 half lives or 1/2 to the 6th power. Rather low. Generally it is urine and that's a bit of a longer period of time. There isn't a lot of storage of nicotine but there would certainly be a contribution of how much of a smoker one was at the time of quitting--which can easily vary over 10 fold. So... 1 cigarette a day with 6 half lives is pretty darn low. 40 cigs a day 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 cigs, yeah that can probably be detected.
So, 10 or less cigarettes a day is the fulcrum. Lower than that it likely is negative, higher than that all bets are off. The test can measure if you just had a cigarette and the equivalent at 4.5 days would be stopping 40 cigarettes a day at 4.5 days prior.
I find this answer helpful
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
Can I Pass Nicotine Blood Test After Quitting Smoking For 4.5 Days?

tricky. It s right on the border. Cotinin has a 17 hr half life. That is about 6 half lives or 1/2 to the 6th power. Rather low. Generally it is urine and that s a bit of a longer period of time. There isn t a lot of storage of nicotine but there would certainly be a contribution of how much of a smoker one was at the time of quitting--which can easily vary over 10 fold. So... 1 cigarette a day with 6 half lives is pretty darn low. 40 cigs a day 20, 10, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 cigs, yeah that can probably be detected. So, 10 or less cigarettes a day is the fulcrum. Lower than that it likely is negative, higher than that all bets are off. The test can measure if you just had a cigarette and the equivalent at 4.5 days would be stopping 40 cigarettes a day at 4.5 days prior.