Nicotine Testing

Nicotine testing became common when insurers flagged smoking as a public health concern. Many companies—especially those with employees entering homes, like HVAC or cable installers—now include nicotine in drug policies to reduce insurance costs. Testing methods include: Urine tests: Detect nicotine for 2–4 days; quick and easy. Saliva tests: Most sensitive; detect cotinine for 1–4 days. Hair/nail tests: Detect up to 3 months; most reliable but costly. Nicotine enters the body through smoking, vaping, or skin contact and is broken down into cotinine, which stays in the system for varying times depending on test type, genetics, and other factors. Employers should create clear policies outlining actions for positive results, noting that nicotine patches or gum may test positive, while second-hand smoke usually doesn’t.