How long does Carbon Monoxide (CO) stay in the body?
CO is eliminated through the lungs and has a half-life of approximately 4 hours(1). Therefore you must not leave it too much longer than 20-30 minutes after having a cigarette to take a CO reading as it leaves the body relatively quickly. A smoker can blow non-smoker readings approximately 24 hours from going ‘cold turkey’ and quitting smoking completely.
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References
1. Andrew H. Carbon Monoxide ‘The Silent Killer’ Feasibility Study 2009/2010. 1st ed. London: London Ambulance; 2017