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Test Code NICOU Nicotine and Metabolites, Random, Urine

Additional Codes

CNE Order Code: Nicotine, Urine

Reporting Name

Nicotine and Metabolites, U

Useful For

Monitoring tobacco use

 

Monitoring patients on nicotine-replacement therapy for concurrent use of tobacco products

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Urine


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Container/Tube: Plastic, 5 mL, aliquot tube

Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a random urine specimen.

2. No preservative.


Specimen Minimum Volume

2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  365 days
  Ambient  28 days

Reference Values

Non-tobacco user with no passive exposure:

NICOTINE

<5.0 ng/mL

 

COTININE

<5.0 ng/mL

 

ANABASINE

<2.0 ng/mL

 

NORNICOTINE

<2.0 ng/mL

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Thursday

CPT Code Information

80323

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
NICOU Nicotine and Metabolites, U 43125-4

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
82510 Nicotine 3854-7
21321 Cotinine 10366-3
21324 Nornicotine 33917-6
21323 Anabasine 33915-0

Interpretation

Urine nicotine in the range of 1000 to 5000 ng/mL with cotinine in the range of 1000 to 8000 ng/mL indicates the subject is either actively using a tobacco product or on high-dose nicotine patch therapy.

 

The presence of anabasine and nornicotine indicates a subject on patch therapy who is actively using a tobacco product.

 

Typical findings are as follows:

 

While using a tobacco product:

-Peak nicotine concentration: 1000 to 5000 ng/mL

-Peak cotinine concentration: 1000 to 8000 ng/mL

-Anabasine concentration: 10 to 500 ng/mL

-Nornicotine concentration: 30 to 900 ng/mL

 

Tobacco user after 2 weeks complete abstinence:

-Nicotine concentration: <30 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <50 ng/mL

-Anabasine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

-Nornicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

 

Nontobacco user with passive exposure:

-Nicotine concentration: <20 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <20 ng/mL

-Anabasine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

-Nornicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

 

Nontobacco user with no passive exposure:

-Nicotine concentration: <5.0 ng/mL

-Cotinine concentration: <5.0 ng/mL

-Anabasine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

-Nornicotine concentration: <2.0 ng/mL

Report Available

2 to 5 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross icterus OK

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.