--- title: Nicotine/Cotinine Test Test type: test id: nicotine-cotinine url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/nicotine-cotinine-test" price_usd: 55.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 61.99 category: Drug & Alcohol Screening sample: Urine sample fasting_required: false results_in: "1–3 business days" labs: - Labcorp orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-09-14 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=nicotine-cotinine-test&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Nicotine/Cotinine Test Test > 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. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $55.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($61.99 all-in for this test alone) | | Sample | Urine sample | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 1–3 business days | | Labs | Labcorp | | Biomarkers measured | 1 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Nicotine/Cotinine Test test tell you? Measures cotinine — the long-lasting nicotine metabolite used to detect tobacco use for insurance, employment, and smoking-cessation monitoring. 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. **Clinical use:** Drug and alcohol screening detects recent or chronic substance use for clinical, occupational, or personal monitoring purposes. ## Who should order it? Patients being evaluated for substance use, employers requiring confirmation testing, and individuals self-monitoring recovery. ## Biomarkers measured - Cotinine (nicotine metabolite) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Labcorp | $55.99 | $61.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Nicotine/Cotinine Test test cost? 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 2026-09-12](https://www.questhealth.com/product/nicotine-and-cotinine-drug-screen-panel/90646M.html) | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $180.00 | $180.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | Lab test codes: Labcorp test no. 737919. ## How do you prepare? No fasting required. Avoid nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges) if testing for tobacco use specifically. ## Related conditions - Substance use evaluation (Z13.89) ## Common questions about the Nicotine/Cotinine Test test ### How long do Nicotine/Cotinine Test results take? Most Nicotine/Cotinine Test results are available in 1–3 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal. ### What sample is collected for the Nicotine/Cotinine Test? Urine sample. Follow the sample-collection instructions included with your order kit. ### How much does the Nicotine/Cotinine Test cost without insurance? On TestWell, the Nicotine/Cotinine Test is $55.99. Quest Direct lists comparable tests at $89. Walk-in hospital labs typically bill $180 or more without insurance. Insurance is not required — pay one all-in price. ### Do I need to fast before the Nicotine/Cotinine Test? No fasting required for the Nicotine/Cotinine Test. No fasting required. Avoid nicotine replacement products (patches, gum, lozenges) if testing for tobacco use specifically. ### Where can I get the Nicotine/Cotinine Test done? The Nicotine/Cotinine Test is available at Labcorp patient service centers nationwide. Order online at TestWell, pick your preferred lab, and we'll generate a digital requisition for the location closest to you. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=nicotine-cotinine-test&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Labcorp patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 1–3 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [All Drug & Alcohol Screening tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/drug-alcohol-screening) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/nicotine-cotinine-test Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.