Pre-employment Nicotine (cotinine) testing

Sour Lemon · Feb 13, 2018

Hi all - I received an offer of employment today from a hospital system that has a tobacco free hiring policy (I somehow missed this in the application paperwork), which would require me to take a urine drug/nicotine (cotinine) screen in 2 weeks. Does anyone know what levels hospitals use in urine cotinine tests to consider whether or not you are an "active smoker?" Prior to last weekend, I had not used any form of tobacco in a month, but I did smoke about 7 cigarettes 2/10/18 (this Saturday). From everything I've read online, cotinine has a half life of about 20 hours, so once I am passing 200 ng/ml home urine tests, I should be down to zero ng in approximately 5 days? Please no judgmental posts - I realize smoking is bad for you, I am just interested if anyone had similar experiences or knowledge of pre-employment urine cotinine testing. Thanks a bunch.

If you do a site search you'll find lots of information. This topic seems to come up pretty regularly.

OldDude · Feb 13, 2018

I don't smoke but I would seriously object to such a requirement. Nicotine is a lawful substance for adults and has nothing to do with a facility being tobacco free.

I'll bet the facility is a cologne/perfume free environment too...will they test you for cologne or perfume residue in your hair or urine?

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2018

I wish a nicotine test could be applied to the neighbors who hamper my ability to breathe in my own apartment. Where I don't see the need for this in the workplace, I certainly think a person should not be forced to breathe smoke where they pay to sleep and otherwise exist.

OldDude · Feb 13, 2018

I wish a nicotine test could be applied to the neighbors who hamper my ability to breathe in my own apartment. Where I don't see the need for this in the workplace, I certainly think a person should not be forced to breathe smoke where they pay to sleep and otherwise exist.

Totally agree with this...

Rn1045 · Feb 13, 2018

I appreciate all the support guys, and while I don't agree with the policy either, it is the policy - so I am just looking for anyone who has smoked and had to take a urine nicotine test and had any additional info on that.

OldDude · Feb 13, 2018

I appreciate all the support guys, and while I don't agree with the policy either, it is the policy - so I am just looking for anyone who has smoked and had to take a urine nicotine test and had any additional info on that.

Why don't you just call a testing facility that does this kind of test??

Rn1045 · Feb 13, 2018

I have called the lab that processes their test and they will not give me the cutoff levels Bc I am not "authorized personnel"

OldDude · Feb 13, 2018

I have called the lab that processes their test and they will not give me the cutoff levels Bc I am not "authorized personnel"

That's convenient...BS

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Feb 13, 2018

Ok I googled, a toxicology lab confirmed

1/2 life nicotine 2 hrs.j

The metabolite Corinne 20 hrs...

It further said that it could be detected for up to 10 days

Negative is considered to be

Best wishes

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Feb 13, 2018

When I used to smoke, I took the urine nicotine test for a network that would hire you if you came back positive, you just had to pay more for insurance.

They did require you to do a one time nicotine addiction program and then you would retest 6 weeks after the first test.

I had not yet quit smoking at that point. I think I smoked 2-3 cigs/day at that point, I had smoke the evening before my second test. I never smoked on my way into work so by the time I went and took the test in the afternoon, I had not smoked that day. It came back negative.

The only thing I can think of for why is that I drink a lot of water usually.