Blood Drug Testing

How long is nicotine detectable in the human body through blood tests. Urgently need to know ! Help me?? THNX

I've recently changed doctors and he says I have to quit smoking or he will not treat me. My next appointment is scheduled for Oct., with orders for blood work to check for nicotine, one week prior. The other day, I had a Heart Saver Scan done (detects and gives a calcium score...high, signifies an increased chance, when included with risk factors, of significant heart disease). My score was above 1000, and they have now ordered lab work, AND a cardiac catherization next week. I have stopped smoking, but JUST. I think I'm about to be busted big time!!! He has given me permission to use "the gum" and I know it shows up in tests, but will it be really obvious that I did, in fact smoke ( not very heavily) for up to a couple of weeks after he gave me his ultimatum. I know it is out of my hands, and I probably deserve whatever he decides to "dish out" but I'd really like to know what to expect. Thanks for everyones help in advance.

Public Comments

1. I would think that your doctor would know that most people can't quit instantaneously, so I am sure he wouldn't drop you if you were at least trying. He probably told you this because it is frustrating to treat people who aren't doing anything to help themselves. Imagine working in an ER stitching up a wound while the guy is taking a scalpel to himself somewhere else. It is basically the same thing, just not quite as extreme.
2. The half life is 2 hours, how sensetive is their test? How much is in you system to start with? 2 day to a week ir you kidneys are crappy never. Cardiac doctors have patients quite instantly all the time. And you might too. (Never burried a person with a cergarett in his mouth yet)
3. I'll reserve my opinion about your physician's threat and answer your question: If a blood test is being used to detect nicotine, it can't distinguish nicotine from the gum or from a cigarette; however, even though the "steady state" half life of nicotine is ~ 2h, it differs for different people, but 2 h +/- 30 min is a good ballpark figure. Multiply the half-life (of any chemical) by 5, and it is virtually undetectable, so nicotine itself may not be detectable in a basic clinical blood test after about half a day, but ... Special blood tests can be used (and are used by some insurance companies) that can detect metabolites of nicotine (i.e. chemicals that are present in your blood after your body "breaks down" nicotine). Some nicotine metabolites include cotinine, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, nornicotine, and anabasine. These can be simultaneously and accurately quantified in either serum (from your blood) and analysed by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. If the last pack you smoked was a week ago, say, these sorts of tests will be able to confirm that you have not been abstinent. Again, if your physician is OK with you using nicotine gum, he will not be able to tell by the blood test. He will be able to smell it (if he's a non-smoker himself), for example ... just be smart. It would be unethical for me to say more, but don't smoke till you see him and you should be safe. If you need a stent to save (or prolong) your life, you need a stent ... end of question. BTW, I know a cardiac surgeon who I saw smoking in his vehicle -- they're human and shouldn't have the "holier than thou" attitude.