Nicotine & Metabolites, Serum

Test Code

NICMET

Includes

Nicotine and Cotinine levles

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum from plain red top tube

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Transport Temperature

Ambient temperature

Specimen Stability

14 days ambient temperature

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis, gross lipemia, gross icterus

Report Available

3-6 days

Reference Range

Nicotine: <2.0 ng/mL, Cotinine: <2.0 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Nicotine-dependent patients use tobacco products to achieve a peak serum nicotine value of 30 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL, the concentration at which the nicotine high is maximized. Nicotine is metabolized in the liver to cotinine. Cotinine accumulates in serum in proportion to dose and hepatic metabolism (which is genetically determined); most tobacco users accumulate cotinine in the range of 200 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL. Serum concentrations of nicotine and metabolites in these ranges indicate the patient is using tobacco or is receiving high-dose nicotine patch therapy.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.