Better2Know Drug & alcohol testing

Cotinine Test

A blood test measuring cotinine, a marker used to assess recent tobacco or nicotine exposure, commonly requested for insurance purposes or to check second-hand smoke exposure. Not a general health screen.

Sample
Blood
Collection
Venous draw at clinic
Results in
1 day
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Cotinine

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
blood
Collection method
venous draw at clinic
Turnaround time
1 day
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

  • Cotinine

About this test

Cotinine is what your body produces as it processes nicotine, so this blood test is commonly used to assess how much tobacco smoke or nicotine you have been exposed to recently, whether from smoking, nicotine replacement therapy or second-hand smoke. Cotinine stays detectable in blood for longer than nicotine itself, which is why it is often the marker tested rather than nicotine directly.

We do not have a named comparison group for this specific test, but against the wider set of 8 similarly sized toxicology tests we track, its £295 price is 84% above the £160 median, while its single biomarker places it around the midpoint for depth among tests of this type. So this is a narrowly focused test priced well above the typical toxicology test we track.

It scores strongly for clarity, with a clear description, biomarker detail and turnaround published up front, and moderately for collection convenience given it needs a venous blood draw at a clinic, with results back in about 2 days. It scores lower on results and follow-up because, as with Better2Know's other tests, results are not doctor-reviewed as standard.

Who is it for?

This suits you if you specifically need to confirm or document tobacco or nicotine exposure, for example for an insurance application or to check exposure to second-hand smoke, rather than as part of general health screening.

We do not hold named peer tests in our data for a direct price comparison here. If cost is the main concern, it is worth asking whether a broader health check you are already considering includes a cotinine or smoking-status marker rather than paying for this as a standalone test.

How it works

A doctor or nurse takes a blood sample from your arm at a Better2Know clinic. The sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis, and the fact sheet states results are available within about 1 working day, viewable in your online patient account. It does not state that results are doctor-reviewed as standard, though Better2Know says it will help interpret your results.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Results are ready within about 1 day.
  • Clear description of what cotinine measures and why it might be tested.
  • Straightforward single-marker result, useful for a specific insurance or exposure check.

Cons

  • At £295, 84% above the £160 median for similarly sized toxicology tests we track.
  • Tests only cotinine, not a broader panel of substances.
  • This test has no listed peer group, so we cannot benchmark its price against named competitors.
  • Results are not doctor-reviewed as standard.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Single-marker cotinine test priced 84% above typical
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This single-marker Cotinine Test costs £295, 84% above the £160 median for the 8 similarly sized toxicology tests we track, and its single biomarker places it around the middle for depth among such tests. There are no named peer tests in our data for a direct comparison, and results are ready within about 1 day but are not doctor-reviewed as standard.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 7.2/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 44th percentile of toxicology tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 5.0/10

    Requires a venous draw at a clinic; results in around 1 days, well ahead of the toxicology norm of 2.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 2.3/10

    £295.00 against a median of £160.00 for the 8 similarly sized toxicology tests we track (+84%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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