How Long is Cotinine Detectable in Urine?

Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine that can be used as a biomarker for exposure to tobacco smoke. It is detectable in urine for up to 3-4 days after last exposure to tobacco smoke.

Detection Time	Cotinine Levels	Reference
0-4 hours	Peak levels	[25]
12 hours	50% of peak levels	[25]
24 hours	25% of peak levels	[25]
3-4 days	Detectable levels	[25]

Cotinine Detection in Urine

Table 1: Cotinine Detection Time in Urine

Detection Time	Cotinine Levels	Reference
0-4 hours	Peak levels	[25]
12 hours	50% of peak levels	[25]
24 hours	25% of peak levels	[25]
3-4 days	Detectable levels	[25]

Cotinine is detectable in urine for up to 3-4 days after last exposure to tobacco smoke. This makes it a useful biomarker for assessing recent tobacco smoke exposure.

Table 2: Cotinine Half-Life in Urine

Half-Life	Reference
16-19 hours	[7]

The half-life of cotinine is approximately 16-19 hours. This means that it takes about 16-19 hours for the body to eliminate half of the cotinine in the urine.

Success Stories

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that cotinine levels in urine were significantly lower in people who quit smoking compared to those who continued to smoke.

A study by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) found that cotinine levels in urine were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.

A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that cotinine levels in urine were associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Tips to Pass a Urine Test for Cotinine

Quit smoking well before your test. The longer you abstain from smoking, the lower your cotinine levels will be.

Drink plenty of fluids. This will help to dilute your urine and reduce your cotinine levels.

Avoid taking certain medications. Some medications, such as antibiotics, can interfere with cotinine detection.

Use a urine dilution agent. This product can help to dilute your urine and reduce your cotinine levels.

Conclusion

How long is cotinine detectable in urine? Cotinine is detectable in urine for up to 3-4 days after last exposure to tobacco smoke. This makes it a useful biomarker for assessing recent tobacco smoke exposure.

How Long is Cotinine Detectable in Urine?