The short answer
Measures cotinine — the long-lasting nicotine metabolite used to detect tobacco use for insurance, employment, and smoking-cessation monitoring, measured from a urine sample. At TestWell it costs $55.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$180
cash pay
Other Labs
$89
+ lab fees
TestWell
$55.99
+ $6 lab fee
This urine test measures cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, which remains detectable far longer than nicotine itself. While nicotine clears the body in hours, cotinine can be detected for up to a week after last tobacco use, which is why cotinine (not nicotine) is the standard marker for tobacco use. This test is commonly required for life insurance applications, pre-surgical clearance, smoking cessation programs, and employment wellness screenings.
Drug and alcohol screening detects recent or chronic substance use for clinical, occupational, or personal monitoring purposes.
Patients being evaluated for substance use, employers requiring confirmation testing, and individuals self-monitoring recovery.
Sample Type
Urine sample
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Labcorp
1 biomarker tested
Your Nicotine/Cotinine Test results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
No fasting required. Avoid nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges) if testing for tobacco use specifically.
A Nicotine/Cotinine Test test costs $55.99 at TestWell — $61.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $142.00 at Quest Health (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $180.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $55.99 | $61.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Quest Health (Quest Diagnostics' own site) | $142.00 | $142.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $180.00 | $180.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
56% less than the lower lab-direct list price, for the same draw at the same lab. Lab test codes: Labcorp test no. 737919. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$55.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
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Nicotine/Cotinine Test
$55.99