Thunderpaw wrote:
Hmm, I've read about the 72 hours. However everything I'm reading on the internet is that when employers test for nicotine they actually test for cotinine which can stay in your system and be detectable for longer periods of time. However I cant get a straight answer about how long. Some say its 7 to 10 days, some say 2 weeks, others say 30 days and the Hospitals in the area (who require the testing for job applicants) say its 90 days. I'll be 30 days clean by the time I take the test but I'm still really nervous. I want this job and it will feel like a slap in the face after quitting to lose it because I didn't quit early enough.
I'm pretty sure this will be a urinalysis test.


As Boudoir notes, Thunderpaw, the reason you can't get "a straight answer" is that we can't possibly know the sensitivity of the equipment doing the test.   While nicotine's half-life is roughly two hours, one of the chemcials it breaks down into, cotinine, has a half-life of 17 to 20 hours.   Also as Boudoir notes, there comes a point where levels of nicotine or cotinine measured in blood, saliva or urine are so small that they're equal to or less than levels seen in never-users who breathe secondhand smoke.  But whether or not you land this job, Thunderpaw, we hope you're now feeling the beauty of reclaming your mouth, mind and freedom!   Just one rule to keeping it ... no nicotine today!

Breathe deep, hug hard, live long,

John (Gold x11)