Why get tested?To detect the presence of and/or measure the quantity of nicotine or cotinine in blood, urine, saliva, or sometimes hair; to determine whether someone uses tobacco or has been exposed to secondhand smoke; sometimes performed to evaluate for acute nicotine poisoning
When to get tested?Whenever someone requires confirmation of tobacco usage or exposure to secondhand smoke; occasionally when nicotine overdose is suspected
Sample required?A blood sample collected from a vein in your arm or a
random urine sample; sometimes a saliva sample or, rarely, a hair sample