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Test Code
COTNS
Test Name
Cotinine, Serum
CPT Codes
AMA 80323, CMS G0480
Expected Turnaround Time
3 - 5 days
Clinical Utility

Useful in monitoring and/or assessing use of nicotine products.
Specimen and Container Info

Preferred Specimen Type:  Serum

Preferred Collection Container: Red Top, Plain

Desired Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Processing and Submission Instructions
  1. Centrifuge specimens for 5 minutes at 3000 rpm.
  2. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic aliquot tube.
Transport Instructions

Transport to the laboratory refrigerated. 
Stability Requirements

Room Temperature

 7 days

Refrigerated

 7 days
Causes for Rejection

Specimens collected in separator tubes will be rejected.  
Methodology
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Reference Intervals
  • Serum Cotinine concentrations greater than 25 ng/mL indicates active use of a Nicotine containing product.
  • Serum Cotinine concentrations less than 25 ng/mL could be consistent with passive exposure to Nicotine containing smoke.
Limitations

Analyte

Cutoff Concentration (ng/mL)

Cotinine

10
Performing Location
Roble Road Core Laboratory
Alternate Names
  • Nicotine Metabolite
  • Nicotine
  • Cotinine
Testing Schedule
Routine, 2 times per week
The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes published by HNL Lab Medicine are guidelines and are intended for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the exclusive responsibility of the billing entity. View the Terms.
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