Biochemistry

Preferred Sample Type

Paracetamol

Suitable Specimen Types

Serum

Paracetamol

Specimen Volume

2 mL blood

Sample Preparation

Centrifuge specimens

Turnaround Time

1 Hour (with urgent request)

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Usual

Sample Stability

Specimens are stable for at least 14 days when stored at 4ºC

General Information

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a common drug used in many formulations due to its analgesic and antipyretic properties. Chronic excessive use of paracetamol can result in hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Over dosage can lead to severe hepatic damage and hepatic failure if untreated. Early diagnosis of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity is important since initiation of therapy within 16 hours of ingestion lessens the potential for hepatic injury and decreases the mortality rate. Therefore, a rapid and accurate determination of paracetamol is needed.

Patient Preparation

Paracetamol measurement is only required when overdose is suspected. Samples should not be taken until 4 hours has elapsed since time of ingestion.

. Please contact the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) website (http://www.npis.org/npis.html) which provides NHS healthcare professionals with a 24-hour, year-round clinical toxicology information service. The paracetamol nomogram can be found at: http://www.npis.org/paracetamolposter.pdf.

Notes

Haemolysed or grossly lipaemic samples will not be analysed.

The method does not measure the common metabolites of paracetamol (glucuronide, sulphate, cysteine and mercapturate)

 

 

Reference Range

Not Applicable - use in overdose only

Specifications

  • EQA Status: NEQAS
  • EQAS Scheme: Yes

Link to Further Information

http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/paracetamol/tab/glance

Related Tests

PT / INR and Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)

Creation Date

Monday, 08 August 2011

Modification Date

Thursday, 11 February 2021

General Information

General information about the website and its content

Read more

Location of Laboratories

Where the laboratories are located and information about the services offered at each laboratory

Read more

Copyright UHB Pathology 2018

Protection of Personal Information – Clinical Laboratory Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

University Hospitals Birmingham medical laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • Musculoskeletal laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 9897
  • Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217.

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://qehbpathology.uk/test-database

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962