If you are considering buying a life insurance policy then you may have to undergo some tests if you want a good rate or proper coverage.  One of these tests may be for nicotine content.  They may ask you if you are a smoker or have smoked in the past and depending upon your answer and/or your test results you may be denied coverage or pay a higher rate.  The test may be a blood test or a urine test which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Cotinine is the nicotine metabolite that the test will detect. The urine test strips for cotinine usually have a cutoff level of about 200ng/ml and can detect cotinine from a small amount used from 2 to 5 days. More sensitive tests like the GCMS have a cut off level of 5ng/ml and can detect a one time use for up to 7 to 10 days.  Hair tests for cotinine have a detection cutoff level of 2ng/ml for nicotine and have a much longer detection time since there is no mechanism in your body to flush out the toxins from your hair.  Saliva testing for cotinine is very sensitive and can detect amounts as little as 1ng/ml and can have a detection time from seven to ten days.  Blood tests can reveal the cotinine metabolites from 7 to 10 days for a single usage.

Surprisingly, some foods contain nicotine which can trigger a false positive.  Potatoes, tomatoes and some of the black tea varieties can give a false positive for nicotine. It is always best to be upfront with the insurance company about your history of smoking.  If you lie to the insurance company and say you have never smoked and then the tests prove otherwise then you may be denied coverage or have to pay a higher rate.