Help! Pre-employment nicotine test!

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So,I have a question regarding pre-employment URINE nicotene test/cotinine test. I have been free and clear of cigarettes for 3 days and have to test in 5 days. I have been drinking approx a gallon of water daily and totally stayed free and clear of any type of second hand smoke. I bought an online urine cotinine test where I tested negative. However, the level I test could only tell me that my urine concentration was below 200 ng/ml.

After doing some research online, I feel like the standard for a negative test result is less than that off 200 ng/ml. Does anyone know the standard they test in urine. Also, do you think if my levels are already below 200, that I'd be able to pass the test in 5 days? Please no cruel posts or judgements...I just want facts!

I would like to comment but please don't take offense. The other reason health care facility or hospital might want smoke free is for the patient. I have allergies and if someone was very close to me giving care and smelled strongly of smoke I would have a hard time breathing and could possible be set off either into a migraine or needing my epi pen.

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Ok, my question was about cotinine levels in urine, not why hospitals are enforcing new policy concerning the use of nicotene. Can no one help and tell me the level they test for in the urine??

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I used to smoke...quit several times. The last time I quit has "stuck" (since 2007) :)

Someone walked past my car two days ago, smoking, and the smell came in through the vents. It was very unpleasant.

Poor genetic material???? Yikes.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.
ChuckeRN said:
I think this is the point. Smokers tend to less healthier then those who are non-smokers. Therefore, they take more sick days, and the group insurance rates go up.

I also think that fat people are just as at risk, but I'm thinking that so far, they cannot "discriminate" against obesity. At least not overtly.

Why can't they discriminate against the obese population? Last time I read the civil rights act, weight was not a protected class.

OP, the sensitivity of the urine screen is going to depend on the parameters set by the facility. I don't think there is a way to find out the level for sure without asking specifically. Have you considered quitting smoking for real, instead of just trying to pass the test? It wouldn't surprise me if your employer also required random screens and you risk losing your job if you test positive.

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I think this test is very unfair. What if your wearing a nicotine patch and you show them that you are really making the effort to quit by getting the patch and show it to them. Then what are they going to do?

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or you could say "I just finished my 10 week course of nicotine patches....yesterday was actually my last day on the patch....." :smokin:

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My personal choice to quit is not pertinent to the question. What is pertinent is the fact that I have not smoked in 3 days!

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Any type of product with nicotene including patches yields a positive result. And so they do not take that into consideration. Which is terrible for people who actually do want to quit but who are struggling with withdrawl. It is easy for a nonsmoker to say well "why don't you just quit". Just as easy as I could tell an obese person well "why don't you lose weight". HOwever, the fact of the matter, is that if it were truly that easy, alot more people would be sucessful at doing so!

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Specializes in SICU.

Pertinent or not it all boils down to:

You are afraid you will fail the test because you are a smoker

The posters above are giving you very good points intersected with personal experience.

you say "Ok, my question was about cotinine levels in urine, not why hospitals are enforcing new policy concerning the use of nicotene. Can no one help and tell me the level they test for in the urine??"

When clearly someone has given you the answer and it is that It will depend on your facility

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Thinking the slight irritation in OP's post below is the withdrawal talking. Good luck with your test (and I can't help but say consider staying off, everyday will be hard for a long time I'm sure, but you are worth it!)

Quote
Pertinent or not it all boils down to:

You are afraid you will fail the test because you are a smoker

The posters above are giving you very good points intersected with personal experience.

you say "Ok, my question was about cotinine levels in urine, not why hospitals are enforcing new policy concerning the use of nicotene. Can no one help and tell me the level they test for in the urine??"

When clearly someone has given you the answer and it is that It will depend on your facility

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Cotinine Test Information

Interpreting Cotinine Test Levels:

Cotinine levels

Values of 10 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL are associated with light smoking or moderate passive exposure.

Levels above 300 ng/mL are seen in heavy smokers - more than 20 cigarettes a day.

In urine, values between 11 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL may be associated with light smoking or passive exposure, and levels in active smokers typically reach 500 ng/mL or more.

Nicotine is rapidly metabolized and has a short half-life, but cotinine is metabolized and eliminated at a much lower rate. Because of the resulting increase with time in the cotinine to nicotine ratio in the body, including in the brain, it is of interest to examine the effect of cotinine on nicotine-induced changes. This is typically done thru cotinine testing, either by cotinine blood test or by a cotinine drug test (sometimes referred to as a nicotine test - although nicotine is not actually being tested.

http://www.cotininetest.com/

Lots of info about that type of test there. I'm not 100% sure of the exact levels your employer will test for, but the ones above are what they are capable of testing for. I'd imagine if you're over 100 ng/mL you would either be a smoker or have been sitting in a cigar room for a loooooong time doing nothing but taking deep breaths. If you weren't smoking like a freight train, you may be alright.

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THANK YOU onedayitllbeme and nursekellyh. As I said before I don't know how far below 200 I am but I do know that my levels are under that value. So i presume if I keep up the good work, I'll be okay!

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