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HelpTest Code NICOS Nicotine and Cotinine, LC/MS/MS, Serum/Plasma
Specimen Required
1 mL serum collected in a red-top tube (no gel)
4mL whole blood in EDTA or dark / royal
blue top tube
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL serum or plasma 2mL whole blood
Specimen Stability
Serum and plasma Room temperature: 72 hours Refrigerated: 21 days Frozen: 30 days Whole blood Room temperature: 72 hours Refrigerated: 21 days Frozen: Unacceptable
Rejection Due To
Gross hemolysis • Serum Separator Tube (SST®)
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
Mon-Sat evening
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)
Collection Container / Tube
Preferred: Red Top Tube
Other Acceptable Container: EDTA
(lavender-top), or (dark/royal blue-top)
Transport / Storage Conditions
Refrigerated
Special Instructions
Spin and transfer serum or plasma into a plastic, screw-capped vial.
Reference Values
Nicotine
Smokers 2-10 ng/mL
Nonsmokers ≤4 ng/mL
Cotinine
Smokers 16-145 ng/mL
Nonsmokers ≤8 ng/mL
CPT Codes
80323
Analytic Time
3 days
Alias/See Also
LAB9116