The blood test that detects nicotine is called a cotinine test. It measures recent tobacco use and exposure. Cotinine is a chemical that comes from the breakdown of nicotine in the body. A blood test ...

If you're starting a new job or applying for health insurance, you may be asked to take a nicotine test. Every time you use tobacco, nicotine — a chemical compound found in tobacco — enters your body.

Nicotine quickly enters your bloodstream. Your liver then breaks down nicotine into several byproducts, primarily cotinine. Depending on what you're testing, such as a blood, urine, saliva, or hair ...

Nicotine itself could clear from your body in a few hours, but its byproduct can linger for days or weeks. Most nicotine tests detect cotinine, which can show up in urine, saliva, blood, hair, and ...