Does Drinking Water Flush Nicotine Out Of Your System?

Can a blood test confirm if I am a smoker?

A lab examination called a nicotine test may help a doctor determine the nicotine content in a person's body. A nicotine test measures the level of nicotine or the chemicals it produces in the body. It's usually done by testing a sample of the blood or urine. The test is used to see if a person smokes or uses other forms of tobacco.

Nicotine is the addictive chemical found in cigarettes and other tobacco products. When a person smokes, the body breaks down nicotine and turns it into cotinine. Cotinine is the chemical metabolite that lab technicians look for when screening for nicotine use.

How long does nicotine stay in your blood system?

When a person stops using nicotine, it can take more than two weeks for the levels of nicotine and cotinine in the blood to drop. It takes a few more weeks after that for the levels in the urine to drop.

For the nicotine test, a blood sample may be collected from a vein in the arm, or a random urine sample will be used. Sometimes, a saliva sample or a hair sample (rarely) is used.

• A high level of nicotine or cotinine indicates active tobacco or nicotine product use.
• A moderate concentration indicates that the person has not had tobacco or nicotine for two to three weeks.
• A lower level may be found in someone who does not use tobacco but has been exposed to environmental smoke.
• Very low to undetectable concentrations may be found in people who have not used tobacco or nicotine, have refrained from tobacco and nicotine for several weeks, or are not exposed to environmental smoke.

Nicotine can appear in the bloodstream about an hour after inhalation.

A 2017 article reviewed by the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois stated that cotinine can be detected in the blood for up to 10 days after a person quits. Although a blood test is an invasive procedure, measuring cotinine in the blood is the most reliable way to detect nicotine use. It is also the preferred method for determining nicotine exposure among nonsmokers.

A nicotine test is generally taken for legal reasons, such as before taking a new job or when it is mandated by a court. This test determines the levels of nicotine in the blood.