Does a SAMHSA panel include nicotine?

The short answer is no. The standard SAMHSA federal workplace drug testing panel does not include nicotine or its primary metabolite, cotinine. SAMHSA's mandatory guidelines define which substances federal agencies and DOT-regulated employers must test for, and nicotine has never appeared on that list. If your program needs to screen for tobacco or nicotine product use, you will need to add a separate cotinine test or choose a multi-panel cup that includes a nicotine/cotinine analyte.

Understanding why nicotine is absent — and what options exist for programs that do need it — helps administrators design a panel that matches their actual compliance and wellness obligations.

What the SAMHSA federal panel actually covers

SAMHSA's Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs establish a five-drug panel for urine testing. The five drug categories are:

• Marijuana metabolites (THC)
• Cocaine metabolites
• Amphetamines (including methamphetamine and MDMA)
• Opioids (including codeine, morphine, heroin metabolite 6-AM, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Nicotine is not a scheduled controlled substance and poses no impairment risk in a safety-sensitive workplace in the way these five categories do. Because the federal panel exists specifically to address impairment and illicit drug use, nicotine falls outside its regulatory scope.

For a deeper look at the analytes, cutoff concentrations, and regulatory history behind the federal panel, see our guide to the SAMHSA federal workplace drug testing panel.

Why programs test for nicotine separately

Nicotine testing is driven by policy objectives that are entirely separate from the SAMHSA framework:

• Smoke-free or tobacco-free hiring policies. Some employers in healthcare and other industries maintain policies that require employees to be tobacco-free as a condition of employment.
• Insurance and wellness programs. Group health plan premiums or wellness incentives may be tied to tobacco-free status.
• Substance use treatment and recovery programs. Some residential or sober-living programs track cotinine as part of a comprehensive wellness and accountability approach.
• Research studies. Clinical investigators may need to verify tobacco-use status as a study variable.

None of these use cases fall under the SAMHSA mandatory guidelines, so organizations pursuing nicotine testing are operating under their own policies or state-specific rules — not federal drug-testing mandates.

How cotinine testing works

When a person uses any form of nicotine (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, nicotine patches, or gum), the body metabolizes nicotine primarily into cotinine. Cotinine remains detectable in urine for a longer window than nicotine itself, which makes it the preferred analyte for urine-based testing.

Detection windows vary considerably by individual and depend on factors including frequency of use, metabolism rate, hydration level, body mass, and the cutoff concentration of the specific test. Always consult the product's package insert for the specific cutoff used and discuss detection window expectations with your laboratory or supplier rather than relying on a fixed number.

Adding nicotine/cotinine to your testing program

Because cotinine is not part of the SAMHSA federal panel, you have flexibility in how you add it. Common approaches include:

1. Standalone cotinine dip card or strip. A single-analyte test run alongside your standard multi-panel screen. Easy to add to any existing workflow without changing your primary panel.
2. Multi-panel cup with a built-in cotinine analyte. Higher-panel cups can incorporate cotinine alongside the other analytes your program already screens for, reducing the number of separate tests per specimen.
3. Oral fluid cotinine test. Useful when observed urine collection is impractical or when you want a less invasive collection method.

When evaluating any of these options, confirm the specific cutoff concentration of the cotinine analyte with the supplier, and verify whether the product's regulatory designation (CLIA Waived, 510(k) cleared, or E&I) matches your program's setting.

Common mistakes when adding nicotine testing

• Assuming it's part of the standard panel. Any vendor that describes cotinine as part of a "standard SAMHSA panel" is misstating the regulation. The federal panel does not include it.
• Ignoring state law. Some states restrict or prohibit employer nicotine-status testing as a condition of employment. Consult legal counsel before implementing a tobacco-free hiring policy.
• Conflating nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with tobacco use. Nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges will also produce a positive cotinine result. Programs need a clear written policy addressing NRT before testing.
• Using the wrong regulatory designation. CLIA Waived tests are designed for clinical and patient-care settings; Employment & Insurance (E&I) or 510(k)-cleared products are typically appropriate for workplace screening. Verify which designation applies to your use case before purchasing.
• Setting a blanket policy without legal review. Because nicotine testing intersects with employment law, wellness plan regulations, and state statutes, always involve HR counsel in policy design.

Recommended products for nicotine testing

If your program needs standalone cotinine testing, Magenta offers several options:

• Nicotine / Cotinine Urine Magenta Dip Card @ 100 ng/mL — a flood-proof single-analyte urine dip card for programs that run cotinine separately from their main panel.
• D-Pen Mini Cotinine Oral Fluid Test — 50 ng/mL — an oral fluid option for non-invasive cotinine screening.
• 3-Panel D-Pen Oral Fluid Test (Alcohol + Nicotine + THC) — combines cotinine with alcohol and THC screening in a single oral fluid collection.
• 20 Panel Magenta Urine Cup (Nicotine, Dual-Cutoff Opiates, Fentanyl, EtG, K2, Kratom, Tramadol) — for programs that want comprehensive multi-analyte coverage with cotinine built in.

Verify the panel composition and cutoff concentrations for each product on the product page or package insert before ordering.