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In 2005, a Michigan-based company Weyco drew up plans for a zero-tolerance smoking policy due to rising health insurance costs. The company aspired to a smoke-free company and all employees must maintain a smoke-free and tobacco-free status at all times. How do companies like Weyco screen their workers for smoking?

Insurance companies employ nicotine tests on their new customers and policy holders when reviewing their premium. Nicotine tests which uses immunoassay technology can detect continine in urine and saliva.

Your liver breaks down 70% to 80% of nicotine into nicotine metabolites. Continine is the major metabolite of nicotine and it stays in your body for up to two weeks. Continine also presents itself in your urine. According to American Lung Cancer, you can't find any nicotine in your blood and urine within 72 hours after your last cigarette. That is why most nicotine test kits examine urine for continine, and not nicotine.

You can buy nicotine test kits such as NicAlert, TobacAlert, and COT from drug stores and the Internet. They are easy to use and don't need elaborate equipment.

There are instances that lead you to use this test. Here are some examples:

1. Studies in U.S. show that more than 4 million youngsters under the age of 18 smoke. Don't you want to check if your children smoke? Even some high schools and middle schools begin to test their students for cigarette usage.

2. If your spouse or anyone in your home smoke, you can evaluate the extend of second hand smoke exposure on your loved ones. If everybody has high levels of continine even when they don't smoke, you can outline preventive measures to protect the innocent ones.

3. You can use nicotine tests to determine the effectiveness of a quit smoking program. Some programs use nicotine cleansing products to clear nicotine from your system. With this kit, you can tell if your body is free from nicotine.

4. Insurance companies and even your employers use nicotine tests to confirm your smoking status.

Quitting smoking can help you in two ways. First, your premium will be lower if you stop smoking. Studies show that the premium for smokers reaches three times more than that of non smokers. Second, you get to keep your job if your company plans to enforce a non smoking policy.

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