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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Smoker. Need To Pass Urine Test For Nicotine To Renew Insurance. Advice To Pass Test?

I have been smoking on and off for 40 years. At present I am smoking 7-10 cigarettes a day. My employer just informed us that we will be required to pass a urine test for nicotine to renew our current insurance and if we do not pass, will pay additional $50.00 for insurance every 2 weeks. How can I pass this test? I have no idea how long nicotine stays in your system or how to flush it out. Even if I stopped smoking today, I have to take test a week from tomorrow. Any suggestions?

Fri, 18 Oct 2013
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,

Your chances of passing the test would depend on what test the insurance people are using as well as your metabolism. There is variability from person to person and some genetic differences in the rate at which nicotine is metabolized and in the rate at which cotinine (metabolite of nicotine) is cleared from the body. Usually nicotine and cotinine are cleared from the saliva, blood and urine by a week, but if hair is tested, then these can be detected for a longer time. I feel that you should stop smoking immediately and also avoid exposure to second hand smoke. Taking lots of fluids may help in faster clearance from the body.

Hope this helps you. Best wishes.
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Smoker. Need To Pass Urine Test For Nicotine To Renew Insurance. Advice To Pass Test?

Hi, Your chances of passing the test would depend on what test the insurance people are using as well as your metabolism. There is variability from person to person and some genetic differences in the rate at which nicotine is metabolized and in the rate at which cotinine (metabolite of nicotine) is cleared from the body. Usually nicotine and cotinine are cleared from the saliva, blood and urine by a week, but if hair is tested, then these can be detected for a longer time. I feel that you should stop smoking immediately and also avoid exposure to second hand smoke. Taking lots of fluids may help in faster clearance from the body. Hope this helps you. Best wishes.