Synonyms |
|
Acetaminophen, N-Acetyl
para-amino phenol |
Clinical
Indications |
|
Suspected Overdose.
Paracetamol is the single most important substance involved in
childhood and adult poisonings in the UK.
|
Request
Form |
|
Combined Pathology
Blood form (Yellow/Black)
|
Availability |
|
On request
|
Specific
Criteria |
|
Sample
must be taken 4 hours or more after ingestion. Levels taken
before 4 hours cannot be reliably interpreted because of the possibility
of continuing absorption and distribution of the drug.
|
Turnaround
Time |
|
2
hours
|
Specimen |
|
Serum
|
Volume |
|
2 ml
|
Container |
|
Yellow top (SST) tube
|
|
Lab.
Handling |
|
Original sample and an aliquot of
sample should be
stored frozen (in the toxicology box).
|
Causes
for Rejection |
|
Sample
taken less than 4 hours after overdose.
|
Reference
Range |
|
See
treatment chart
|
|
Overdose |
|
An information
sheet is available from the National Poisons Service.
|